A Condor flight from Mauritius to Frankfurt encountered a medical emergency, with 70 out of 290 passengers experiencing symptoms such as vomiting and nausea, as reported by Bild.
The airline has heightened its cleaning procedures as a precautionary step.
The incident occurred during a Condor Airbus A330 flight from Mauritius to Frankfurt, Germany, which typically lasts over 11 hours.
Upon landing, emergency services were deployed to assist affected passengers. Condor's spokesperson stated that the crew provided additional care to unwell passengers, including extra fluids and airsick bags.
In Frankfurt, the airport authorities arranged for medical assistance and emergency vehicles, following standard protocol for such situations. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the illness. As a temporary measure, Condor has adjusted its cleaning and loading procedures for flights departing from Mauritius, implementing more thorough cleaning practices.
Cases of mass illness during flights can be triggered by factors such as turbulence or contaminated food, reminiscent of scenes from the 1980 comedy "Airplane!" Psychological factors can also play a role in such incidents.
A notable incident involved a 1975 Japan Air Lines flight where 197 passengers fell ill, with 144 hospitalized due to Staphylococcus-contaminated meals causing food poisoning.