AIRLINER CREWS HIT BY CABIN FUMES

A survey of 640 staff found all but nine had gone down with a wide range of debilitating diseases, inevitably raising fears for the safety of passengers.

The study comes amid claims that governments and airlines have covered up growing evidence of aerotoxic syndrome – a term used to describe “fume events”, when poisonous oil fumes leak into the cabin.

Former flight attendant Sue Dale, of Toxic Free Airlines, who led the study, said: “Everyone should be able to get on a plane and know it is safe. There is a huge cover-up going on.”

One attendant told researchers he had constant headaches, another was off work with arm and chest pains and thyroid problems. In the US, former American Airlines attendant Terry Williams, 40, is suing Boeing over illnesses she says were caused by toxic fumes.

Symptoms include fatigue, breathing problems, palpitations, depression and migraine and staff have also reported a high rate of cancer.

The Civil Aviation Authority maintains there is no evidence of a link between cabin air and ill health among cabin crews.