Three pilots fall ill on a 10-hour flight with suspected food poisoning

The incident occurred last week, on a night flight that departed from Hyderabad, India, to London's Heathrow Airport.

Despite the scare, the aircraft landed safely on English soil with no operational problems reported.

The first pilot became 'seriously ill' and was unable to continue his normal duties, according to The Times of India. He was incapacitated while the aircraft crossed an altitude of 30,000 feet and required oxygen and urgent medical attention after landing. The other two completed the trip safely, although their health condition worsened during the flight.

The three pilots had had breakfast together at a hotel in Hyderabad before the flight. They also allegedly consumed bottled water provided by an external company, according to Gulf News, a Dubai newspaper.

British Airways confirmed the incident and said it is reviewing crew accommodation in Hyderabad. "The well-being of our colleagues is an absolute priority and we are reviewing crew accommodation at this location following some isolated reports of unwellness," the airline said in a statement.

The three pilots provided medical samples to help identify the source of the disease. The airline has already opened an investigation into the incident.

The incident is considered highly unusual because commercial airlines follow strict safety protocols. They are designed to prevent all flight deck crew members from getting sick at the same time. These measures often include encouraging or requiring pilots to consume different meals.

British Airways has faced similar incidents in the past. In 1984, a major outbreak of food poisoning affected nearly a thousand passengers, crew members and employees, disrupting the company's global operations. More recently, in 2024, a United Airlines flight from Incheon to San Francisco returned to South Korea after several pilots and flight attendants became ill shortly after takeoff, according to Arabian Business.

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