Unexplained illness strikes passengers and srew on Air India flight
MUMBAI, India, June 25: At least seven individuals, including two crew members, reported symptoms of illness during an Air India flight from London Heathrow to Mumbai on Monday, prompting an onboard investigation and medical response upon landing.
In a statement to the Times of India, Air India confirmed that five passengers and two cabin crew aboard Flight AI-130 complained of feeling 'dizzy and nauseous' at various points during the journey. Despite the in-flight issues, the aircraft proceeded as scheduled and landed safely in Mumbai.
Medical teams were on standby at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to assist the affected individuals. According to the airline, two passengers and two crew members required additional medical evaluation and were later released after treatment.
'We are investigating the incident and have duly notified the regulator,' an Air India spokesperson stated, as questions remain about what caused the symptoms.
While Air India confirmed that seven people were impacted, other reports suggest the number may be higher — with up to 11 individuals, including six crew members, allegedly affected.
The cause of the illness remains under investigation. One possible explanation, according to The Times of India, was a cabin pressure issue. However, no oxygen masks were deployed during the flight, suggesting that depressurization was unlikely.
A source quoted by The Economic Times of India suggested that food poisoning might be a more probable cause. The source explained that while pilots are served the same food as passengers, their meals are delivered after passengers have been served. In previous years, airlines followed stricter protocols by sourcing meals for the pilot and co-pilot from separate kitchens to avoid simultaneous incapacitation.
"Serving pilots meals from different kitchens is a proactive safety measure grounded in aviation risk management," the source said. "It ensures that a single catering issue does not affect both flight crew members, thereby preserving operational safety."
No further disruptions to Air India operations were reported following the incident, and a formal inquiry is underway to determine the exact cause of the mid-flight illnesses.
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MUMBAI, India, June 25: At least seven individuals, including two crew members, reported symptoms of illness during an Air India flight from London Heathrow to Mumbai on Monday, prompting an onboard investigation and medical response upon landing. In a statement to the Times of India, Air India confirmed that five passengers and two cabin crew aboard Flight AI-130 complained of feeling 'dizzy and nauseous' at various points during the journey. Despite the in-flight issues, the aircraft proceeded as scheduled and landed safely in Mumbai. Medical teams were on standby at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to assist the affected individuals. According to the airline, two passengers and two crew members required additional medical evaluation and were later released after treatment. 'We are investigating the incident and have duly notified the regulator,' an Air India spokesperson stated, as questions remain about what caused the symptoms. While Air India confirmed that seven people were impacted, other reports suggest the number may be higher — with up to 11 individuals, including six crew members, allegedly affected. The cause of the illness remains under investigation. One possible explanation, according to The Times of India, was a cabin pressure issue. However, no oxygen masks were deployed during the flight, suggesting that depressurization was unlikely. A source quoted by The Economic Times of India suggested that food poisoning might be a more probable cause. The source explained that while pilots are served the same food as passengers, their meals are delivered after passengers have been served. In previous years, airlines followed stricter protocols by sourcing meals for the pilot and co-pilot from separate kitchens to avoid simultaneous incapacitation. "Serving pilots meals from different kitchens is a proactive safety measure grounded in aviation risk management," the source said. "It ensures that a single catering issue does not affect both flight crew members, thereby preserving operational safety." No further disruptions to Air India operations were reported following the incident, and a formal inquiry is underway to determine the exact cause of the mid-flight illnesses.
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