Passengers on British flight were 'dropping like flies' with sickness

The scene at Leeds Bradford Airport as emergency vehicles surrounded the flight. Photo / Twitter

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 yesterday after reports that four people were unwell on-board, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Other passengers were kept on board for more than an hour whilst 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."

Titley, who praised the response of the cabin crew, said that the 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 sergeant Chris Brumfitt wrote on Twitter: "Joint emergency service response to Leeds / Bradford airport tonight after reports of a number of people falling ill on an in-bound flight.

"Fortunately nothing more than a sickness bug. #Police #leeds #Bradford"

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.

"The crew were alerted to a further two, non-associated cases of passengers feeling unwell on board.

"On arrival, as a precaution they were immediately checked over in the ambulance before heading home.

"All other passengers disembarked as normal and continued their journeys. The safety and care of our customers is always our first priority.''