By Joshua Fagan , 6 February 2026
Featured image: British Airways Boeing 777-200. Image: public domain (CC0 1.0).
A British Airways Boeing 777 arriving in the UK from the Caribbean was met by medical services after crew members reported feeling unwell following a strange odour on board during the flight.
The aircraft, a Boeing 777-200 operating flight BA2204 from Punta Cana to London Gatwick, was en route shortly after departure on 3 February when passengers and crew noticed an unusual smell near the rear of the cabin. According to incident reporting, several cabin crew members later experienced nausea and dizziness during the flight.
Despite the reports, the aircraft continued to Gatwick, landing approximately seven hours after departure. After arrival, one cabin crew member was taken to hospital for further assessment. British Airways has not publicly disclosed the nature of the odour or the cause of the reported symptoms.
There were no reports of injuries among passengers.
Following the flight, the aircraft remained on the ground at Gatwick for around 27 hours before returning to service. Extended groundings after incidents involving cabin air quality are not unusual, as airlines typically carry out inspections and technical checks before releasing an aircraft back into operation.
Cabin odours and in-flight response
Strange smells on board aircraft can originate from a range of sources, including air-conditioning system issues, contaminated air supplies, or galley-related faults. In many cases, the source is difficult to identify during flight.
When crew report symptoms such as dizziness or nausea, flight crews must assess the severity, monitor affected individuals, and decide whether diversion is necessary based on the information available at the time. These decisions can be complex, particularly on long-haul flights over water where diversion options may be limited.
British Airways has not indicated whether the flight crew considered diverting or whether the odour persisted throughout the flight.
What is not known
At this stage, there is no public information confirming the source of the odour, whether air quality measurements were taken, or whether the incident will be subject to further investigation by regulators.
British Airways has not commented on whether the aircraft was found to have a technical fault or whether any changes were made before it returned to service.
While online discussion has questioned the decision to continue to Gatwick, no evidence has been presented to suggest procedures were not followed. Airlines routinely balance medical assessments, crew condition, and operational considerations when responding to in-flight events.
For now, the incident remains a reminder of how difficult it can be to diagnose and respond to cabin environment issues once an aircraft is airborne.
