Two crew ‘fall unconscious and passengers suffer from burning eyes after cleaning fluid spills’ to force American Airlines flight from Heathrow to Philadelphia to divert to Dublin
- Flight from Heathrow from Philadelphia had to divert to Dublin this afternoon
- Chemical spill onboard left crew unconscious and passengers with burning eyes
- Were you on the flight or at Dublin airport? Call 0203 615 2676 or email richard.spillett@mailonline.co.uk
An airliner flying from the UK to the U.S has been forced to reroute to Ireland after crew fell unconscious due to a chemical spill.
American Airlines flight AA729 from Heathrow to Philadelphia was rerouted to Dublin airport at around 1pm this afternoon (UK time).
It is understood a bleach-like cleaning product was left in the plane’s toilets at Heathrow and spilled out of its container and into the floor.
After the flight took off, the smell of the liquid left passengers and crew suffering ill effects.
A cleaning chemical spilled on an American airlines flight from London to Philadelphia this afternoon, leaving two crew unconscious and passengers with burning eyes
The flight had to reroute to Dublin, where it has now landed and where medical assistance is being given to crew and passengers
The plane has now landed in Dublin.
A spokesman for the airline said: ‘American Airlines flight 729 from London Heathrow to Philadelphia diverted to Dublin due to an odor caused by a spilled cleaning solution in the galley.
‘The flight landed safely in Dublin at 1:15 p.m. local time, and taxied to the gate.
‘Medical personnel have met the aircraft to evaluate any crew members or passengers who may need additional assistance.’
Flight watchers Twitter feed, Airport Webcams, claimed two crew were unconscious and passengers had burning eyes after cleaning liquid was spilled.
The tweet stated: ‘American #AA729 London Heathrow to Philadelphia (Airbus A330-300 N279AY) has turned back SW of Ireland and is diverting to Dublin. Pilot advises spillage of cleaning fluid. 2 crew temporarily unconscious; several pax with burning eyes, itchy skin.’
Another plane spotter tweeted that the flight’s captain had requested medical assistance meet the flight as soon as it lands.
- Were you on the flight or at Dublin airport? Call 0203 615 2676 or email richard.spillett@mailonline.co.uk
Plane watchers said crew were temporarily unconscious and passengers suffered ill effects