Travel chaos as TWO flights have mid-air emergencies within A MINUTE at major UK airport
A British Airways Boeing 777-200 declared a dramatic "full emergency" due to "toxic fumes" in the cabin and was forced to land at 3.29pm.
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Meanwhile an easyJet flight landed at Gatwick airport at 3.30pm after declaring a "pan pan" alert following a bird strike.
British Airways flight BA2203 bound for Cancun had to circle London for 45 minutes while it dumped fuel before it was safe to return to the West Sussex hub.
Oxygen masks were deployed and the pilots were even forced to open the windows in the cockpit to let in fresh air.
Passengers among the 340 flyers and crew onboard reported a 'smell of used socks' which left them 'dizzy'.
Emergency services lined the runway as the plane landed at 3.29pm - almost an hour after the 2.11pm take-off.
The Gatwick runway and BA aircraft both needed close inspection after the unscheduled touchdown.
The Sun understands staff and passengers required medical attention on landing due to exposure to the mystery fumes.
BA's flight to Mexico was postponed for 24 hours, with passengers forced to stay in local airport hotels.
Tuesday's chaos meant the Gatwick to Cancun service did not operate until today.
BA told The Sun: 'The aircraft landed safely at Gatwick after our pilots identified a technical issue. Customers disembarked normally and we've apologised for the disruption to their travel plans.'
At the same time easyJet Flight EZY8520 declared a "pan pan" drama caused by a suspected bird strike en route from Madeira in sun-kissed Portugal.
The alarmed pilots requested a "continuous descent into Gatwick airport" and "sterile runway'" for the twin-jet Airbus A320 with around 190 crew and passengers onboard.
After landing at 3.30pm on Tuesday, officials had to inspect the runway before it was allowed to re-open.
EasyJet told The Sun: "Flight EZY8520 from Funchal to London Gatwick on 15 July requested a priority landing into London Gatwick.
"The aircraft landed normally was met by emergency services in line with procedures, purely as a precaution.
'The safety of our customers and crew is easyJet's highest priority and easyJet operates its fleet of aircraft in strict compliance with all manufacturers' guidelines.'
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