Mystery illness strikes another American Airlines flight ... passengers nearly pass out

Friday, February 05, 2016 by: Jennifer Lea Reynolds
Tags: American Airways, emergency landing, mystery sickness

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(NaturalNews) American Airlines flight 904, bound for Miami, Florida, from Rio de Janerio, Brazil, made an emergency landing recently, when passengers and staff began passing out mid-flight. The ill feelings kicked in at over 30,000 feet, causing the pilot to cut the flight short and instead land in Brasilia, Brazil, just 580 miles from where it had departed.⁽¹⁾

A spokesman for American Airlines said that, "Flight 904 diverted to Brasilia after one passenger and three flight attendants complained of lightheadedness. The aircraft landed safely at Brasilia ... and was met by paramedics who evaluated the passenger and crew members. None requested further medical attention." The spokesman continued, "Our maintenance team is currently inspecting the aircraft and performing a thorough maintenance check. Out of an abundance of caution, the flight was canceled ... and our passengers have been reaccommodated on other flights."⁽¹⁾

Concerns about everything from contaminated on-board air, to a bad oven cleaner reaction ensued, after people on the Boeing 777 became ill. But one thing was clear: Most were in agreement that the medical emergency closely mimicked another recent American Airlines emergency that occurred just days before.⁽¹⁾

Another American Airlines flight made emergency landing, just days prior, for similar reasons

Indeed, all within the same week, another American Airlines plane was forced to make an emergency medical landing after passengers and crew started falling ill. In that instance, flight AA109, which happened to be carrying Britain's Got Talent's boy band, Race the Horizon, landed just hours into a flight that was going from the U.K. to Los Angeles, California.⁽²⁾

Band member Kris Evans recalls how "a lady from the cabin crew was walking down the aisle and she just stumbled and fainted right by us. I've never seen anything like that before on a plane. Then a couple of rows in front an older man started feeling sick. It was weird, like a nightmare."⁽²⁾

The plane returned to the U.K. where it landed safely, at which point passengers were told to remain on board while air tests were conducted. Paramedics and maintenance teams were also at the airport, checking out the passengers and the aircraft.

In addition to what might be causing people to feel faint on these flights (as of this writing, it's still unknown), there was also concern expressed as to why flight AA109 went all the way back to the U.K. to land instead of at a closer airport. On Twitter, @rosableik wrote, "Funny I watched AA109 turn back, why not KEF Iceland instead of LHR again. Still wondering." Another tweet coming from @Avuxeni_ asked, "[W]hy did #aa109 not divert to Iceland or Edinburgh or Glasgow if it had a medical emergency on board? [W]hy go to London that is further away?"⁽²⁾

Crew union demands answers, calls to update 1950s air circulation technology

In response to these events, a union called Unite, which represents cabin crews, is demanding a public inquiry regarding the "aerotoxic syndrome" that results in contaminated air. Their stance is that leaks in aircraft engines can enter a plane's cabin, causing crew to become sick.⁽³⁾

According to Howard Beckett, Unite's executive legal director, "The case for a full scale public inquiry into aerotoxic syndrome builds daily. This is the second such incident in recent days - the aviation industry simply cannot continue to ignore the clamour for action."

Beckett insists that manufacturers take action immediately, adding that, "The technology behind the circulation of air within aircraft has not moved on much at all since the 1950s meaning that fume events are happening with regularity. It is worth noting that organic phosphates are found in engine oils, these are live threatening poisons that are used in chemical warfare."⁽³⁾

Sources for this article include:

(1) Mirror.co.uk

(2) Mirror.co.uk

(3) Mirror.co.uk