Hyderabad: British Airways is reviewing the accommodation arrangements for its crew in Hyderabad after reports that crew members fell ill following a stopover in the city. The airline said the welfare of its employees remains its highest priority and confirmed that it is assessing the accommodation following “some isolated reports of sickness.”
The review comes after reports that a pilot operating a British Airways flight from Hyderabad to London Heathrow became unwell during the journey. According to sources, the aircraft completed the flight safely and landed normally, with no impact on flight safety.
Airline confirms review of crew accommodation
Responding to the reports, a British Airways spokesperson said the airline had initiated a review of its crew accommodation in Hyderabad.
“The welfare of our colleagues is a top priority and we are reviewing crew accommodation in this location following some isolated reports of sickness.”
The airline did not disclose further details about the reported illnesses or identify the accommodation being reviewed.
British Airways operates daily flights between Hyderabad and London Heathrow and runs a total of 63 weekly flights to Heathrow from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai.
Pilot reportedly fell ill during Hyderabad-London flight
According to sources, one of the pilots became unwell during a recent Hyderabad-London Heathrow flight.
The aircraft continued its journey in accordance with established operational procedures and landed safely at Heathrow. Officials said passenger safety was never compromised despite the medical incident involving the crew member.
Some media reports have suggested that three pilots on the flight experienced symptoms after an overnight stay in Hyderabad, with one reportedly requiring oxygen during the flight. However, British Airways has not officially confirmed those specific details.
Investigation into possible cause
Initial reports indicate investigators are examining whether food or drinking water consumed before departure may have contributed to the illnesses.
According to multiple reports, the crew members had breakfast together at their hotel before reporting for duty. Medical samples were reportedly collected from the affected crew as part of efforts to determine the exact cause of the sickness. However, no official conclusion has been reached, and the cause remains under investigation.
British Airways has not confirmed whether food poisoning was responsible for the illnesses and has only described the incidents as isolated reports of sickness.
Flight safety not affected
Despite the reported illnesses, the airline and aviation sources have emphasised that operational safety was maintained throughout the flight.
The aircraft completed its scheduled journey to London Heathrow without incident, and established safety procedures were followed during the operation. Authorities have stressed that there was no compromise to passenger safety.
The airline’s review is expected to focus on ensuring appropriate accommodation standards for crew members during layovers while investigators continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the reported illnesses.