British airlines is accused of exposing cabin crew to breathing in fumes mixed with engine oil and other toxic chemicals like TCP, an organophosphate known to be dangerous to human health in high enough quantities. But the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) says incidents of smoke or fumes on planes are rare and there is no evidence of long-term health effects.
Safety reports submitted to the CAA show that between April 2014 and May 2015 there were at least 251 separate incidents of fumes or smoke inside a large passenger jet operated by a British airline.
Pilot Richard Westgate died in December 2012, aged 43, after complaining of long-term health problems. The coroner said the body "disclosed symptoms consistent with exposure to organophosphate compounds in aircraft cabin air". A similar case is 34-year-old Matthew Bass who died in 2014.
Time to pack a gas mask when flying?
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 08 2015, @11:19PM
When I fly in the US it seems like there is about a 50/50 chance that the air will reek of something chemical while on the ground. Its been like that for decades too. Anyone know what that smell is?
(Score: 2) by Kilo110 on Tuesday June 09 2015, @12:18AM
I'm guessing vapors from refueling.
(Score: 2) by subs on Tuesday June 09 2015, @01:05AM
Jet fuel.
(Score: 1) by Gertlex on Tuesday June 09 2015, @02:43AM
Your fear. After all, you're an anonymous coward. ;)
(Score: 2) by isostatic on Tuesday June 09 2015, @02:50AM
Mcdonalds
(Score: 2) by sudo rm -rf on Tuesday June 09 2015, @08:29AM
Really? Nobody has mentioned chemtrails yet?