A routine holiday flight turned into a nightmare for passengers on a British Airways plane when it made an emergency landing in Italy.
Melanie Wells, 61, and her 19-year-old daughter Imogen had been looking forward to an eight-day luxury getaway in Egypt — but the journey began with chaos at 30,000 feet.
Passengers Fall Ill Mid-Flight
Melanie recalls that shortly after takeoff from London Gatwick, she began to feel unwell, initially blaming the plane’s temperature.
But things quickly escalated as other passengers and cabin crew also started showing signs of sickness.
The situation grew alarming enough that the flight was forced to divert to Venice.
Emergency services were on standby, with ambulances, fire engines, and firefighters in full hazmat gear ready to respond.
Hazmat Teams Board the Plane
According to Melanie, the scene on the tarmac was like something out of a disaster movie.
Hazmat teams, complete with breathing apparatus and scanning devices, moved methodically through the cabin, checking passengers and crew.
“About an hour and a half into the flight, crew members suddenly started running up and down the aisles,” Melanie said.
“I didn’t know what was happening. We landed, and the whole plane was surrounded by police, ambulances, and fire services.
Men in hazmat suits came on board, running tests over the stewards and stewardesses, and then on the passengers affected.
I was absolutely terrified — it was pandemonium.”
Airline Attributes Diversion to Technical Issue
Despite the drama, British Airways maintained that the diversion was purely precautionary.
Engineers inspected the aircraft and found no evidence of toxic fumes. The airline confirmed that the plane was cleared to return to service the next day.
A spokesperson said: “The safety of our customers and colleagues is always our top priority.
Our aircraft diverted as a precaution due to a technical issue. We have apologised to our customers and offered compensation accordingly.”
Exhausted and Frustrated Passengers
After an eight-hour delay in Venice, the flight returned to Gatwick, with passengers finally reaching Egypt the following morning.
Melanie described the ordeal as “utterly exhausting” and “a flight from hell.”
“I hadn’t been very well, so I treated my daughter and myself to an ultra-high-end all-inclusive in Sharm El Sheikh.
We were travelling for 40 hours, utterly exhausted. The experience was horrific. BA have performed in the most cavalier manner.
The distress and trauma we went through ruined the start of our holiday,” she said.
Compensation Dispute
British Airways has offered Melanie £2,130 to cover the cancelled flight, meals, and expenses, but she says the airline is refusing to refund the £500 she lost on the first night of accommodation.
“I want the £500 for the missed accommodation too. It was a horrific experience,” Melanie added.
The airline maintains that compensation has been provided according to their policy, but for Melanie and her daughter, the memory of the flight remains far from forgotte
