Passengers taken into quarantine at Gatwick after several taken ill on flight

Were you on board the plane? Contact our news desk on 0203 6152500 or news@standard.co.uk or on Twitter @standardnews
Officials on the tarmac at Gatwick
@trevwilson19

Passengers have been taken off a plane at Gatwick after a sickness outbreak on board.

Crew and all the passengers on board the Virgin Atlantic flight were taken into quarantine when the plane touched down.

Police are understood to have boarded the plane wearing facemasks, with passengers taken to a holding area to be medically assessed.

Virgin Atlantic said: “A number of customers onboard the VS610, which landed at London Gatwick this morning (March 6th) from Barbados, reported feeling unwell.

"As a precaution the plane was met by the relevant authorities who made the decision to screen everyone onboard, in line with standard health and safety procedures.

"The wellbeing of our customers and crew is always our priority, and we are supporting those affected.

"Customers have now left the aircraft and can continue their journeys as normal."

A passenger on the plane, Trevor Wilson, said the flight was made up of passengers who had been on a luxury MSC Preziosa cruise and they were held at the airport for over an hour and a half.

The Standard has approached MSC Cruises for more information.

He claimed five members of the cabin crew had fallen ill while flying and said "several people had flu-like symptoms".

Mr Wilson said a number of people had a "chesty cough" while on board, adding that Virgin handled the situation "very well".

Another holidaymaker, Phill Brown said passengers were escorted to a holding centre with a police escort with “apparently 150 people out of 450 ‘affected’.”

A spokesman for Gatwick Airport said assessment of people's welfare was taken on board.

The spokesman said: "A small number of passengers and crew on board a Virgin Atlantic flight which landed from Bridgetown, Barbados this morning reported feeling unwell. In keeping with health and safety procedures, the relevant authorities were informed and an assessment was taken on board.

"Passengers have now been able to leave the aircraft and continue their onward journeys."

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