Mystery Illness Plagues 70 Passengers On 12-Hour Condor Flight

Natasha Decker
·2 min read
Airplane wing in the sky.
Airplane wing in the sky.

Seventy flyers on a May 9 Condor flight suffered a long and sickly 12-hour journey from Mauritius’ Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport to Frankfurt, Germany.

There are still few details about the incident, and the passengers’ mid-air illness remains a mystery. Disclosed details are that 70 out of 290 onboard flyers fell ill with nausea and vomiting. Business Insider noted that the flight was a Condor Airbus A330. USA Today outlined that the crew was unaffected.

It’s unclear when passengers started experiencing symptoms during the flight. There’s also no information on whether the flyers’ nausea and vomiting continued after landing. Additionally, the in-flight menu is unspecified.

How Did Condor Respond?

Condor hasn’t disclosed what could’ve possibly caused the passengers to become ill. However, the Frankfurt-based airline claimed meals for that flight were prepared at its departure country. Still, the carrier avoided any assertion that Mauritius’ food handlers were to blame.

“Condor is working closely with all responsible partners and authorities,” the airline reportedly told Bild, a German news outlet. “There is currently no result available. We generally do not participate in speculation about the cause, for example about individual menus on board that were prepared in Mauritius.”

The airline noted that sick passengers were provided in the air and after landing. Condor claims to have “adjusted its cleaning and loading processes for the current flights from Mauritius” as a ” short-term precautionary measure.” Moreover, the airline describes its new cleaning standard as  “intensive” for “all objects and surfaces.”

“The crew cared for these passengers by providing additional liquids and airsick bags as required until further medical assistance was available,” a Condor spokesperson said in a statement. “As a precautionary measure, Frankfurt airport and the relevant authorities on the ground were informed to ensure medical care was made available upon arrival in Frankfurt.”