LONDON -- An American Airlines plane travelling from London Heathrow to Los Angeles was forced to turn back just hours into the flight after multiple members of the crew and some passengers fell ill.
The Boeing 777 was just passing Iceland on Wednesday afternoon when it made an about turn and headed back to the capital after a number of people fell faint and one attendant collapsed in an aisle, according to several witness accounts.
The cause of the illness has not been confirmed by the airline.
Passenger Lee Gunn was onboard Flight AA109 and tweeted updates from the plane.
On board #AA109 which is turning back to LHR due to a medical emergency with a member of crew @flightradar24— Lee Gunn (@gunn_lee) January 27, 2016
Several crew and several passengers suffering with equilibrium, scheduled time of arrival in LHR is 5pm @flightradar24— Lee Gunn (@gunn_lee) January 27, 2016
#AA109 down safely, met on arrival by fire and paramedic crews. Shortly taxiing to gate to get assistance for those unwell @flightradar24— Lee Gunn (@gunn_lee) January 27, 2016
"About 2.5 hours into the flight just as we were passing Iceland we had a Tannoy announcement asking for any doctors, nurses or medical professionals on board to report to the boarding doors to assist with unwell passengers," he told The Mirror.
"It was also reported that seven of the crew had fallen ill... along with 'many' passengers," he added.
Another passenger, Alan Gray, said he saw staff taken ill on the plane. "One of the flight attendants was walking down the aisle when she collapsed," he told the Daily Mail. "Then up to six other cabin crew members said they felt light-headed and as though they were going to faint."
"It was at that point the captain said he was turning the plane around. He said he wasn't willing to take the risk to keep going and hadn't got the crew to do it."
The plane made it back to Heathrow where it was greeted by ambulances and police cars. No-one was allowed to disembark while tests for "elevated levels of substances" took place, according to reports. Luggage was then taken for tests by airport authorities.
The welcome into Heathrow earlier! #AA109... What a day! pic.twitter.com/qg0ge99Zvi— Lee Gunn (@gunn_lee) January 27, 2016
The 777W is surrounded with medical teams and fire engines. Medics coming aboard. pic.twitter.com/hG5WPQTVS1— Eric Winter (@elwinter) January 27, 2016
Passenger Eric Winter tweeted photos of medics on board, apparently there to test air quality. An aviation expert told Mail Online that air quality on board, possibly due to faulty equipment, could have been the cause of the illnesses.
He's not wearing a hazmat suit thankfully but apparently checking Air Quality / Reading ... and we passed the test! pic.twitter.com/j2RvkdFoEe— Eric Winter (@elwinter) January 27, 2016
The London Ambulance service confirmed it had checked six patients at Heathrow and they were discharged at the scene.
We have attended an incident at #HeathrowAirport today. We checked over six patients who were feeling unwell. They were discharged on scene.— London Ambulance (@Ldn_Ambulance) January 27, 2016
American Airlines said "paramedics evaluated passengers and crew. None requested further medical attention." They added that maintenance crews are inspecting the aircraft too. Mashable has reached out for more information.
UPDATE Jan. 28, 3:04 p.m. - American Airlines issued the following statement to Mashable:
Two passengers and some of our flight attendants complained of lightheadedness during the flight. The captain elected to return the Boeing 777-300 to London. The aircraft landed safely, where it was met by paramedics who evaluated passengers and crew. None requested further medical attention. Our maintenance team conducted a thorough inspection of the aircraft, including a test flight, and found no issues with the Boeing 777-300. Out of an abundance of caution, all of the air filters on the aircraft were replaced.