Toxic fumes force emergency landing

British Airways Boeing 747 Image credit: Yahoo news

Three pilots and four flight attendants were hospitalised after fumes flooded the top cabin of a Boeing 747 and forced an emergency landing, according to reports.

The British Airways flight from Los Angeles to London diverted to Las Vegas on Thursday when passengers and crew began to feel ill, UK publication the Sunday Express reports.

They were advised to don oxygen masks as the aircraft prepared to land.

Among the 266 people on board were American Idol host Ryan Seacrest, his girlfriend, actress Julianne Hough, and Skyfall actress Berenice Marlohe.

According to the Sunday Express, several passengers were treated by paramedics who met the jumbo jet when it touched down in Las Vegas.

An airline spokesman says some passengers were put up in hotels for a night before being put on alternative flights out of Vegas.

The plane has been taken out of service pending an investigation.

"The smell could only be smelt on the upper deck and 20 business class customers in that area were informed of the situation,” the spokesman said.

“There was no unusual smell on the main deck."

The incident comes a week after fumes on the flight deck of another British Airways flight prompted an emergency landing at a remote military base in Canada.

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