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British Airways emergency: 25 in hospital for 'smoke inhalation' after Vancouver incident British Airways emergency: pilots and cabin crew taken to hospital after Vancouver incident
(35 minutes later)
Twenty five British Airways passengers and crew were taken to hospital and reportedly treated for smoke inhalation after a plane carrying almost 500 people declared a medical emergency and diverted to Vancouver. All 25 British Airways crew on board an Airbus A380 "SuperJumbo" were taken to hospital after the captain declared a medical emergency and diverted to Vancouver. Initial reports suggested they were being treated for smoke inhalation, though this was denied by the airline. Flight BA286 from San Francisco to London was at 37,000 feet over the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, about two hours into its flight, when a decision was taken to divert the jet. A FlightAware record of the flight shows that the aircraft initially changed course and headed for the nearest big airport, Calgary, before switching to Vancouver. It is not known if poor weather at Calgary, or the lack of facilities for handling the A380 “Superjumbo”, was responsible. 
Flight BA 286 from San Francisco to London was switched to land on the Canadian west coast after members of the crew became ill, the airline said British Airways said: " > >*/ /*-->*/ The flight from San Francisco diverted to Vancouver after members of the cabin crew became unwell. The cabin crew were checked as a precaution at local hospitals before being discharged."
The flight was at 37,000 feet over the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, about two hours into its flight, when a decision was taken to divert the jet. A FlightAware record of the flight shows that the aircraft initially changed course headed for the nearest big airport, Calgary, before switching to Vancouver. It is not known if poor weather at Calgary, or the lack of facilities for handling the A380 “Superjumbo”, was responsible.  The flight made an emergency landing in Vancouver at 11.35pm on Monday. Images showed emergency vehicles surrounding the plane on the Tarmac.
British Airways said that “a number of cabin crew and two passengers are being medically checked as a precaution”. Laura Kohli, a spokeswoman for Vancouver Coastal Health hospitals, initially told Canadian broadcaster CBC that 25 people had been taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
Reports said the flight made an emergency landing in Vancouver at around midnight on Monday. Images showed emergency vehicles surrounding the plane on the tarmac. Ten patients went to Richmond Hospital, another 10 went to the Vancouver General Hospital, and another five went to the Delta Hospital. 
Laura Kohli, a spokeswoman for Vancouver Coastal Health hospitals, told Canadian broadcaster CBC that 25 people had been taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
Ten patients went to Richmond Hospital, another 10 went to the Vancouver General Hospital, and another five went to the Delta Hospital. As of about 8am, the patients at the Richmond Hospital and the Vancouver General Hospital had all been treated and released. Those 20 were all cabin crew members, Ms Kohli said.
There was no immediate word yet on the status of the other five patients at Delta Hospital.
A passenger on board, Liz Keller, tweeted: “Passengers on #ba286 pretty much totally in the dark about what happened on board or what comes next.A passenger on board, Liz Keller, tweeted: “Passengers on #ba286 pretty much totally in the dark about what happened on board or what comes next.
“Not reassuring to see firefighters with respirators walking aisles and only be told the crew was taken ill.”“Not reassuring to see firefighters with respirators walking aisles and only be told the crew was taken ill.”
The Associated Press said that the Airbus A380 took off around 7pm on Monday and landed in Vancouver several hours later. The Airbus A380 had left San Francisco at at 7.13pm on Monday evening, local time, and was due to arrive at Heathrow at 1.40pm on Tuesday.
BA said it was investigating the cause of the incident.BA said it was investigating the cause of the incident.
“At the moment we don’t know the cause of the incident and are carrying out an investigation... We don’t at this stage know it was a fume event,” a statement said.“At the moment we don’t know the cause of the incident and are carrying out an investigation... We don’t at this stage know it was a fume event,” a statement said.
The jet can hold 469 passengers but BA did not say exactly how many were aboard.. Twenty-two cabin crew were on board, as well as three pilots. Passengers have been put up in hotels and will be rebooked on other flights. Passengers have been put up in hotels and will be rebooked on other flights.