LOS ANGELES— Three cabin crew members from British Airways (BA) required medical treatment after unknowingly consuming cannabis-infused gummies following a long-haul service from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The incident occurred after the aircraft had safely landed in the United States.
The sweets, reportedly provided by a passenger as a gesture of appreciation, allegedly contained up to 300mg of THC. The affected crew members ate the gummies after arrival in Los Angeles and later experienced severe symptoms that required hospital evaluation.
British Airways Crew Hospitalized
According to reports, the confectionery was shared among staff after disembarkation while they were traveling on a crew transport bus. Shortly after consuming the gummies, crew members began to feel disoriented and unwell.
Sources indicate that the staff quickly realized something was wrong as symptoms intensified. The high THC concentration in the sweets is believed to have caused unexpected psychoactive effects.
There is no suggestion that the crew knowingly consumed a controlled substance. The gummies were reportedly offered as a routine thank-you gift, which is not uncommon on long-haul flights.
Operational Response for BA Cabin Crew
British Airways took immediate operational action once the situation became clear. The airline stood down the entire operating crew from the return Los Angeles to London service.
A replacement crew operated the return flight to Heathrow to ensure compliance with safety regulations and crew fitness standards.
According to the Mirror, the affected staff members were later flown back to the United Kingdom on separate services as passengers.
The airline has not indicated that disciplinary measures will be taken, as there is no evidence that the crew was aware of the contents of the sweets. Instead, the focus remains on passenger identification and internal review procedures.
British Airways Investigates Passenger
British Airways has reportedly initiated efforts to identify the passenger who provided the gummies.
The airline aims to understand how the cannabis-infused product was brought onboard and distributed.
Cannabis regulations differ between jurisdictions, and while certain cannabis products may be legally available in parts of the United States, strict aviation security and airline policies prohibit the possession and distribution of controlled substances onboard aircraft.
Bottom Line
The incident has renewed attention on airline crew safety and passenger conduct. Aviation safety protocols require that crew members remain medically fit at all times during duty periods, and airlines maintain strict policies regarding substance exposure.
British Airways stated that safety remains its highest priority and that it is reviewing the matter in line with internal procedures. The airline continues to cooperate with relevant authorities as needed.
The flight itself was completed without disruption, and no passengers were affected during the journey. The event occurred only after landing, preventing in-flight operational risk.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
