Crew and passengers vomit mid-flight: Third mystery illness incident in two months

A United Airlines flight from Houston to Boston made an emergency landing in Washington D.C. after a "biohazard" situation left both crew and passengers ill. The incident occurred on Sunday morning when a passenger fell sick, causing a severe odour that led to crew members vomiting and passengers requesting masks.

The flight, identified as Flight 2477, departed from Houston at approximately 9:30 a.m. but was diverted to Washington Dulles International Airport by 1:30 p.m. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the crew declared a "medical emergency" due to the biohazard situation.

Audio recordings from the flight reveal the extent of the issue. A crew member was heard saying, “I talked to the crew and it sounds like it’s quite bad back there. The crew is vomiting, and passengers all around are asking for masks.” Another crew member added, “With this kind of being a biohazard, I think we need to get this plane on the ground ASAP.”


Upon landing, the plane's 155 passengers and six crew members did not require any medical attention. United Airlines stated, “The aircraft is currently undergoing a deep clean and we are working to get customers on their way to Boston soon.”

This event is reminiscent of other recent in-flight medical emergencies. Last month, a United Airlines flight from Vancouver to Houston faced a similar situation when 30 passengers exhibited flu-like symptoms. Additionally, in June, Condor Flight DE2315 from Mauritius to Frankfurt saw 70 passengers fall ill with nausea and vomiting, prompting emergency services upon landing.

These incidents underscore the importance of rapid response and thorough cleaning protocols to ensure passenger safety. United Airlines confirmed that thorough deep cleaning processes are in place to handle such emergencies effectively.

United Airlines and other carriers continue to monitor such situations closely, ensuring that safety measures are up-to-date and effective in mitigating similar incidents in the future. Passengers are advised to report any unusual symptoms to the crew immediately to ensure swift action.