Biohazard situations on planes are rare but can quickly escalate into serious health concerns. In recent years, there have been multiple incidents where passengers have experienced extreme discomfort due to unexpected outbreaks of diarrhea, vomiting, or even blood loss during flights. These situations not only pose significant health risks but also create major challenges for airline staff and fellow passengers. In this blog, we’ll explore some of the most notable biohazard plane incidents, highlighting the importance of proper cleanup and the crucial role that companies like National Crime Scene Cleanup play in ensuring a safe environment for everyone on board.
Recent Events involving a Biohazard Plane
Here are 6 Biohazard plane incidents that have ken place in the past year.
1. Air France – Paris to Toronto – June 30, 2023
Habib Battah and his wife were flying from Paris to Toronto via Air France on June 30, 2023. While on the flight Habib noticed a strange smell coming from the footwell under their seats. They were accompanied by their two pet cats that were each in separate carriers. Initially Habib thought the smell might have been due to one of his cats having an accident. When he went to check on the cats he realized that they were fine, however he did notice a wet stain on the floor beneath the carriers. The stain was about 20 inches long and wide. Habib alerted one of the flight attendants and was given a wet wipe to clean the mess himself.
As he started cleaning the area the wipes would turn blood red which alarmed both him and the flight attendants. They alerted the captain of the flight who got in touch with Air France HQ to find out about the blood red stain under seats 30A and 30B. They were informed that a passenger on the same plane the day before had a hemorrhage. The captain of that flight had requested that the area be cleaned but it seems like they neglected cleaning under the seat.
Unfortunately for the couple the flight was full so they couldn’t be moved to other seats and were forced to sit with this biohazard for the next seven hours. To make matters worse they brought the biohazard home with them; the cat carriers, Habib’s shoes and socks were all covered in blood. It was three days later when he received a call from Air France stating that it wasn’t only blood but there was also feces at the scene.
Battah says: “I’ve been covering Beirut for 20 years as a journalist. I’ve lived through wars, airstrikes, seen assassinations, car bombs, and narrowly survived the port explosion. I thought I’d seen it all. I didn’t expect to find more blood than I’ve seen in Beirut on an Air France plane.”
2. Air Canada – Las Vegas to Montreal – August 26, 2023
On an Air Canada flight from Las Vegas to Montreal two passengers were forced to sit in poorly cleaned seats that had been covered in vomit. It turns out that on the previous flight someone had thrown up in the area and while Air Canada attempted to quickly clean the mess the seats were still wet and left a foul smell. Despite there still being visible vomit in the area, the flight attendants couldn’t do anything since the flight was full.
Another passenger on the flight, Susan Benson, took to Facebook to document the series of events that happened. She mentioned how the 2 passengers argued back and forth with the crew for several minutes which concluded with the pilot giving them an ultimatum. They were told that “they could leave the plane… and organize flights on their own dime, or they would be escorted off the plane by security and placed on a no fly list!” The reason given was that the two passengers had been rude but Benson disagrees stating that, “They were certainly not! They were upset and firm, but not rude!”
“I am ashamed to be a Canadian and ashamed of Air Canada. Shame on you Air Canada! shame on you!” – Susan Benson
3. Delta Flight DL 194 – September 1, 2023
A severe Biohazard situation occurred on a Delta Air Lines flight traveling from Atlanta to Barcelona. The situation was so bad they were forced to turn around and land. The pilot of the the flight reported to air traffic control “It’s just a biohazard issue, we had a passenger who had diarrhea all the way through the airplane so they want us to come back to Atlanta.”
It seems that a passenger had a severe case of diarrhea and had left trails of feces up and down the aisles. This obviously left a terrible smell on the flight which forced many of the passengers to start vomiting.
Over 2 hours after its departure Flight DL 194 had landed in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport where it went through serious decontamination. The flight was ultimately delayed by 8 hours but the passengers were able to make it to their final destination in Barcelona.
One memorable tweet made by a passenger on the flight stated:
“It was pretty bad … The vanilla-scented disinfectant used on it only made it smell like vanilla s–t,”
4. Condor Flight DE2315 – May 2, 2024
A flight from Mauritius to Frankfurt, Condor Flight DE2315, turned into a nightmare when around 70 out of 290 passengers fell ill with a stomach virus, leading to widespread vomiting. Since the flight was already half way through the trop they continued en route to Frankfurt. The crew called ahead to alert officials in Germany about the situation so once they landed they were met by numerous ambulances and emergency responders. The airline confirmed that none of the crew members were affected and noted that they are trained for such situations. Condor has launched an investigation into the incident but declined to speculate on potential causes, such as the in-flight meals served to passengers.
“Condor is working closely with all responsible partners and authorities. There is currently no result available. We generally do not participate in speculation about the cause, for example about individual menus on board that were prepared in Mauritius.”
5. United Airlines Flight 1528 – May 31, 2024
On May 31, 2024 United Airlines Flight 1528 arrived in Houston with more than two dozen sick passengers. They arrived from Vancouver and according to reports all of these sick passengers were on the same cruise ship. The CDC stated that the passengers had “GI symptoms” but the exact illness had not been reported. After the plane was evacuated it was removed from service and went through deep cleaning before being used again.
United Airlines released a statement:
“As a precautionary measure, the aircraft will be removed from service and go through a deep cleaning before returning to service. Ensuring the health and safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority.”
6. United Airlines Flight UA2477 – July 28, 2024
Flight UA2477 took off from Houston and was on it’s way to Boston until it had to be diverted due to a Biohazard incident. The flight landed in Washington Dulles International Airport where it underwent a deep cleaning. Once the plane was decontaminated the passengers were allowed back on the flight to continue their journey to Boston arriving 6 hours behind schedule. The cause of this Biohazard is unclear but it had to do with a passenger who experienced a “medical condition” which led to crew member also falling ill and vomiting. The pilot was quoted saying:
“I talked to the crew and it sounds like it’s quite bad back there. It’s still really bad. The crew is vomiting and passengers all around are asking for masks. Especially with this kind of being a biohazard, I think we need to probably get this plane on the ground ASAP.”
The Importance of Biohazard Protocols On Flights
Biohazard incidents on planes are not just unsettling—they’re dangerous, and they underscore the critical need for swift, professional cleanup. The examples discussed highlight how quickly a routine flight can turn into a health emergency, emphasizing the importance of having the right protocols in place. National Crime Scene Cleanup specializes in handling such situations, ensuring that any traces of biohazardous materials are thoroughly removed, and the affected areas are sanitized to the highest standards. Whether it’s blood, vomit, or other bodily fluids, their expertise is essential in restoring safety and peace of mind for passengers and crew alike.
