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HOLIDAY JET PANIC
Drama on Tenerife-bound BA flight as attendants race to put on smoke hoods before landing and ‘all crew taken to hospital’
PASSENGERS on board a holiday flight heading to Tenerife from London were forced to make an emergency landing after fumes were reported in the cockpit and cabin.
The British Airways plane issued an international urgency signal just before it was due to reach the holiday island.
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The Airbus A320-200, headed for Tenerife south from London Gatwick, was about to reach the top of its descent into the airport about 190nm northeast of Tenerife when the crew reported fumes in the cockpit, according to the Aviation Herald.
The website reported: "Fumes were also observed in the cabin, a number of flight attendants donned their smoke hoods.
"The aircraft descended early to FL090 and accelerated the approach to Tenerife, the aircraft landed safely on runway 25 about 30 minutes later.
"All crew went to a hospital."
The aircraft remained on the ground for about 29 hours, then went back to London Gatwick and returned to service about nine hours after landing in Gatwick.
Aviation Herald says a passenger reported several flight attendants suffered from symptoms similar to hypoxia (inadequate oxygen supply at the tissue level) and used oxygen.
The incident is said to have happened on June 23, 2019.
Air crew are instructed to put on their smoke hoods under such circumstances so they are able to direct any emergency evacuation, according to experts.
There is no report of any passenger needing medical treatment, although the crew was checked over by medics as a precaution.
There was no mention of the landing emergency on the Spanish air traffic controllers' site.
What is a smoke hood?
A smoke hood is a protective device similar to a gas mask.
It's worn over the head. The tight seal around the hood prevents any smoke from getting in.
The air you breathe through a smoke hood comes through a filter - which removes the toxic gasses found in smoke.
An air filter held in the mouth connects to the outside atmosphere and is used to breathe.
Smoke hoods are intended to protect victims of fire from the effects of smoke inhalation.
This provides clean, safe air for 15 minutes.
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A spokesperson for British Airways said: "Our flight landed safely.
"The safety of our customers and crew is always our priority, and the aircraft is being thoroughly inspected by our highly trained engineers before it returns to service."
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