Three British Airways cabin crew members were hospitalized in Los Angeles after consuming marijuana gummies that had been given to them by a passenger. The incident took place during a layover following a non-stop flight from London to Los Angeles International Airport.
The crew, who described experiencing an “out of body experience” to NDTV, ingested gummies containing 300mg of THC while riding on the crew bus. They soon noticed adverse effects and, upon arrival at their hotel, were taken to a nearby hospital for monitoring.
As the effects intensified, the three became increasingly anxious and concerned about their health. British Airways responded by deploying a replacement crew to operate the return flights to London, ensuring there was no disruption for passengers. The airline stated:
“A small number of our crew reported feeling unwell at their hotel and have since recovered. We sent a replacement crew to operate the return flight, and there was no impact on our customers.”
British Airways has launched an internal investigation to determine when and which passenger provided the gummies. The airline suggested that the crew may have unknowingly been drugged. It is common for passengers to offer sweets to crew members, but in this case, the contents had unexpected consequences.
The airline emphasized relief that none of the affected staff consumed the gummies while on duty aboard the aircraft, as this could have endangered both passengers and other crew members. If identified, the passenger responsible could face police charges.
Flight attendants are required to follow strict drug and alcohol policies while working. Random testing is conducted during duty periods, with zero tolerance for legal or recreational marijuana use or any products containing THC. While limited alcohol consumption is allowed before shifts within specific guidelines, all psychoactive substances are prohibited.
Testing positive for drugs or exceeding alcohol limits can result in immediate grounding or termination of employment. Pre-employment checks also include substance testing before training begins.
Under UK law, being under the influence of drugs or alcohol while performing safety-sensitive duties is a criminal offense under the 2003 Railways and Transport Safety Act. Crew must ensure that any medication they take does not impair their ability to work safely. In this case, as the crew unknowingly consumed cannabis-infused sweets, disciplinary action is unlikely since they appear to be victims of a criminal act.
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