3 BA pilots take ill on Hyd-London flight, airline mounts probe

3 BA pilots take ill on Hyd-London flight, airline mounts probe 

24.07.2026

Hyderabad : Three British Airways pilots fell ill during a Hyderabad-London flight on July 22 in a suspected case of food poisoning, prompting the airline to launch an investigation and review its accommodation arrangements in the city, reports Sunny Baski . 

British Airways maintained that passenger safety was never at risk. According to UK media reports, the pilots started to feel unwell soon after the flight took off from Hyderabad at 7.45am. The reports claimed that one of them fell seriously sick and was left incapacitated, unable to continue normal duties, while the aircraft was cruising at around 30,000 feet. 

The pilot was administered oxygen onboard as symptoms worsened, the reports stated. Soon after landing in London, the pilot was shifted to a hospital for treatment. The other two pilots — including one who stood in for his seriously ill colleague — were able to continue operating the aircraft safely, although they too experienced similar symptoms which intensified after landing. 

Samples collected from them were sent for tests, local reports added. According to airline sources, the pilots had breakfast together at a hotel lounge during their stay in Hyderabad, followed by bottled water purchased from an outside vendor. 

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The airline is probing whether any of that caused the illness. “The welfare of our colleagues is a top priority and we are reviewing crew accommodation in this location following some isolated reports of sickness,” British Airways said in a statement. “In line with established procedures, the aircraft continued safely to its destination and landed normally. The safety of our customers and crew is always our highest priority... ” the airline added. Meanwhile, officials from Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation’s food safety wing said they had not received any complaint in the matter.