‘Sickness bug’ on plane sparks airport alert

A “SICKNESS BUG” on board a flight from Spain caused passengers to “drop like flies” and triggered an emergency response, it has emerged.

The Jet2 flight was surrounded by emergency vehicles on the runway at Leeds Bradford Airport at 9.45pm on Saturday after reports that four people were unwell on board. Other passengers were kept on board for over an hour while the authorities made sure that the sickness was not contagious.

The four had been “violently sick” to the point where one “passed out”, other passengers said. Passenger Nicola Titley wrote on Facebook: “People dropping like flies on the plane … never seen so many emergency vehicles surround a plane so fast after landing.”

Ms Titley said that other passengers were checked for signs of illness but it had been suggested all four people who fell ill may have been staying in the same hotel.

West Yorkshire Police Sgt Chris Brumfitt wrote on Twitter: “Joint emergency service response to Leeds/bradford airport tonight after reports of a number of people falling ill.”

A spokesman for Jet 2 said: “We can confirm that the crew on board flight LS298 from Reus to Leeds Bradford Airport arranged an ambulance for two passengers who were taken ill.