LONDON- British Airways (BA) is moving flight and cabin crew out of its layover hotel in Hyderabad (HYD) after all 3 pilots of a return service to London Heathrow (LHR) suffered violent food poisoning on the cruise.
One first officer became so sick that he was declared “incapacitated” and had to be put on oxygen. The other two pilots flew the Boeing 777 safely to London, and their condition reportedly worsened shortly after arrival.
Three Pilots Fall Sick
The incident took place on flight BA276 from Hyderabad to London Heathrow. The service was operated by a Boeing 777-200ER and is rostered with 3 pilots for the roughly 11-hour sector, allowing them to take turns resting.
Reports identify the aircraft as G-YMMO, a 777-200ER close to 25 years old, and place the incident on July 22, 2026.
There was little rest on this flight. One first officer became so violently ill at around 30,000 feet that he was considered incapacitated and placed on supplemental oxygen.
Crew administered oxygen before the aircraft landed safely at London Heathrow, where medical personnel treated the pilot.
The other two pilots also developed symptoms consistent with food poisoning but remained able to operate the aircraft. Their condition reportedly worsened after the plane landed in the United Kingdom.
What Pilots Ate Before Departure
All 3 pilots had eaten breakfast together in the club lounge at their layover hotel in Hyderabad on the morning of the flight.
They also drank bottled water supplied by an outside provider, and the property is understood to cost around £130 a night.
Investigators are examining whether the hotel breakfast, the bottled water, or another factor caused the illness.
Officials have not confirmed the cause. The airline has not attributed the sickness to food served on board the aircraft.
Union Points Earlier Warnings
The British Airline Pilots’ Association reacted with anger, with union insiders saying crew had raised “dozens” of complaints about hygiene standards at the Hyderabad hotel long before this flight.
BALPA officials are understood to be incensed that repeated warnings about conditions at the property went unheeded.
The airline’s description of the complaints as isolated is expected to draw further criticism from the union, given the volume of earlier warnings it says were lodged.
Crew Moved to 5 Star Property
According to PYOK, British Airways has moved swiftly to take pilots and cabin crew out of the hotel where the alleged food poisoning incidents took place, and is buying up rooms at a luxury 5 star hotel in the heart of Hyderabad’s commercial district.
A spokesperson said “the welfare of our colleagues is a top priority”, and confirmed that the airline is reviewing crew accommodation in Hyderabad following reports of sickness.
British Airways has also begun reviewing its catering arrangements for crew in the city as part of the investigation.
Safety Reports Filed and Samples Taken
All 3 pilots filed Air Safety Reports after the incident and were asked to provide samples to help determine the cause of their illness.
These reports feed into the airline’s mandatory occurrence reporting system and trigger a documented internal review.
The findings of that review are expected to determine whether further changes to crew accommodation or catering are required.
Despite one pilot being incapacitated and the other two reporting illness in flight, British Airways said passenger safety was not compromised.
The airline said the remaining pilots continued their duties in line with established safety procedures. The three pilot roster on this sector meant two qualified pilots remained available at the controls after their colleague was taken out of duty.
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