Chaos as all 3 pilots on BA flight simultaneously struck down with food poisoning

A British Airways flight descended into chaos after all three pilots were struck down with suspected food poisoning during a journey from India to the UK.

The incident occurred on a 10-and-a-half-hour flight from Hyderabad to London Heathrow when one of the first officers became seriously ill while the aircraft was cruising at around 30,000 feet.

The pilot was reportedly left "incapacitated" and required oxygen after falling ill mid-flight. Despite also suffering symptoms, the aircraft's two other pilots were able to continue operating the Boeing 777 safely until it landed at Heathrow.

However, their condition reportedly worsened after arriving in the UK, prompting all three crew members to seek medical attention.

British Airways has stressed that flight safety was never compromised, but the incident has triggered an urgent internal investigation.

According to reports, the pilots had stayed at the same hotel in Hyderabad before the flight, where they shared breakfast and drinks in the lounge. They also drank bottled water supplied by an external company.

All three pilots submitted air safety reports following the incident and were asked to provide medical samples in an effort to identify the source of the suspected food poisoning.

Sources said the case has reignited concerns over hygiene standards at the hotel used by airline crews, with reports that pilots' union BALPA had previously raised numerous complaints about the accommodation.

In response, British Airways confirmed it is reviewing the hotel arrangements for crew members staying in Hyderabad.

A spokesperson for the airline said: "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 unusual incident drew comparisons to the classic 1980 comedy film Airplane!, in which an entire flight crew is incapacitated by food poisoning after eating contaminated fish.

While the circumstances are very different, the real-life incident has raised fresh questions about crew welfare and the precautions airlines take to minimise the risk of multiple flight crew members becoming ill at the same time.