Mystery illness onboard American Airlines jet forces emergency landing

An American Airlines jet flying flying from London to Los Angeles was forced to turn back after passengers and crew were struck down with a mysterious illness. Flight AA109 was over Keflavik, Iceland, when it was diverted back to Heathrow Airport on Wednesday following an onboard “medical emergency”.

A few flight attendents and passengers apparently “felt dizzy” and the plane was met by emergency crews shortly after its landing at Heathrow in London. An American doctor who was traveling on Flight AA109 told the press that many reported a ‘burning smell’ on board.

“The flight attendant had passed out just outside of the business class lavatory and I attended to her first. She awoke after about a minute. Then lost consciousness again before being placed on oxygen. Five other flight attendants and one passenger, an older gentleman who had recently had an aortic valve replacement, all felt ill,” Dr Barbara Persons was quoted as saying by MailOnline. “Other flight attendants all toward front of plane were dizzy, light headed, had vertigo and were slightly nauseated. Two said they smelled a slight electrical or burning smell,” she added.

Meanwhile, one passenger told the Daily Mirror that there was an announcement mid-air which called for medical professionals.