Source: Charles Harrison | www.express.co.uk

Passengers on a British Airways flight at Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 found themselves having to wait for hours on end following what they claim to have initially been told was a “potential contagion”.

Passenger Martin Hill posted online: “Nothing like being locked on a plane with a ‘potential contagion’ for an hour and half with no explanation or information.”

BA have confirmed that a technical fault prompted the plane to land. While fumes were reported coming from the cockpit, London Fire Brigade said they found no elevated readings in a sweep of the plane.

Caroline Coram said: “Smoke and fumes in the cockpit of a BA flight arriving at Heathrow today. On landing the crew fell ill. People exposed were asked to remove their clothing.”

The plane is understood to have arrived from Barcelona today at around 4.15pm.