This is the dramatic moment firefighters in full hazmat gear boarded a British Airways flight from London after it made an emergency landing in Italy.
Melanie Wells, 61, was on the flight which had set off from London Gatwick with her 19-year-old daughter Imogen for an eight-day luxury break in Egypt.
Shortly after boarding, Melanie says she began to feel unwell and initially blamed it on the temperature in the plane. However, she claims the situation spiralled as travellers and cabin crew also became sick with staff going into ‘full panic mode’.
The aircraft was forced to divert to Venice where emergency services rushed to the tarmac with hazmat teams boarding in breathing apparatus and scanning equipment.
British Airways told the Daily Mail that the diversion was ‘a precaution’, following a technical issue. The airline said engineers inspected the aircraft, which was cleared to return to service the next day.
It also explained that the plane was checked by engineers who did not find any evidence of toxic fumes.
Despite the airline’s reassurance, Melanie said the incident was frightening. She also claims British Airways has refused to pay for the money she lost on her first night of accommodation in Egypt.
Explaining the incident, she said: ‘About an hour and a half in the air, crew members suddenly began running down the aisle backwards and forwards. I didn’t know what was going on.’
Melanie added: ‘We were told nothing the whole time. We landed and the whole plane was surrounded by police, ambulances, fire services.
‘And then men in hazmat suits with full breathing apparatus came on board with what I was assume were [testing devices], running them over the stewards and stewardesses then doing it to the passengers affected.
‘I was absolutely terrified – I was out of my mind with worry, I was really fearful. It was pandemonium.
‘The staff were in pure panic mode. At no point did the captain give us any information.’
After an eight-hour delay in Italy, the flight, which took off on December 23, was sent back to Gatwick before passengers finally reached Egypt the following morning.
Melanie says the ordeal left her and her daughter ‘utterly exhausted’ and claims it ruined the start of what was meant to be a much-needed getaway.
‘I hadn’t been very well, so treated me and my daughter to an ultra-high-end all-inclusive in Sharm El Sheikh. I hadn’t been away for ages, it was definitely much-needed,’ she said.
Melanie said: ‘We were travelling for 40 hours.’
‘We were utterly exhausted. The experience was horrific. It was definitely a flight from hell. BA have performed in the most cavalier manner. The distress and trauma we went through it was utterly traumatic. It ruined the start of our holiday.’
She says the airline has offered £2,130 to cover the cancelled flight, meals, and expenses, but 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,’ she added.
A British Airways spokesperson told the Daily Mail: ‘The safety of our customers and colleagues is always our top priority and our aircraft diverted as a precaution because of a technical issue.
‘We’ve apologised to our customers for their experience and have offered compensation accordingly.’
