What happens when you place one man who smells like he has not bathed for weeks in the middle of a full Boeing 737? Answer: an emergency landing.
A Transavia flight from Amsterdam (AMS) to Gran Canaria (LPA) diverted to Faro, Portugal (FAO) after passengers could no longer stand the horrific stench of a man who smelled like he had never encountered a shower or bar of soap. Some passengers fainted. Others vomited.
As the problem became progressively worse in the air, the crew attempted to “quarantine” the man in a lavatory until final approach into Gran Canaria. But it was too late: the pilots had decided to divert. On the ground in Faro, the man was removed by authorities.
Transavia, staying diplomatic, cited “medical reasons” for the diversion. Well, almost diplomatic…
The aeroplane diverted because of medical reasons, but it is indeed right that he smelled quite a bit.
I suppose the logical question is how did he get on the plane in the fist place? If he smelled so bad that he literally coaxed vomit out of disgusted passengers, what about check-in? Security? Boarding?
Then again, I can imagine that passengers may have thought, “Oh I can handle this,” only to find they could no longer hold their noses 90 minutes into the flight. Personally, I think back to my pot-smoking seatmate and cannot imagine sitting next to him on a longhaul flight.
> Read More: Sky High: My Stoned, Stinky Seatmate
CONCLUSION
Odor problems on Transavia sound familiar? Remember, this is the same airline being sued by sisters who were thrown off a diverted flight because their seat mate was farting. He was of no relation with them, but was of the same skin color. FAs assumed the trio were together.
> Read More: Sisters Sue Airline for “Guilt by Association” Fart Removal
Seems like a gas mask may be helpful on your next Transavia flight.
image: Transavia
Sounds more like mass hysteria than a medical emergency. We’ve all experienced being in close proximity to ‘on the nose’ passengers. Unpleasant for sure…but fainting and vomiting ?( one suspects a high volume of precious millennials on the flight).
They get very antsy when deprived of their phones/devices in live mode for more than an hour.
precious millennials? They should have flown Joon! – the airline that was specifically created just for them and their sensitivities…
Psychologically, people have a high tolerance for bad smells from animals and garbage – those are expected and beyond our control. But a low tolerance for awful smells from other people. I bet knowing the stench came from another human being could introduce a vomiting ‘hysteria’. I’ve see almost that on a New York subway. Fainting however … wouldn’t the scent work like smelling salts to wake an unconscious person?
All it takes is for one person to vomit to set off a chain-reaction from others around them. The sight of vomit makes me gag and almost vomit myself; had I been there, I’m sure I would’ve contributed to the situation.
I also wonder how, if that smelly, he made it past check-in, security, and the gate. Always carry some sanitary-wipes with you, they really do come in handy.
Now i’m thinking of ..”smelly cat, smelly cat, what do they feed you..?”
He was probably smelly during check-in and boarding but remember those are rather open spaces so people just got a whim. Being in a small enclosed space the smell obviously intensified. Transavia flights have load factors of over 90% and we currently have very hot weather in Europe. So imagine a fully packed plane with other sweaty pax and then this.
Like Moises said, it takes just 1person to vomit and the rest follows. But did someone really faint? I can’t stop laughing at this.
..”smelly cat smelly cat, what do they feed you..?”
I once flew LHR to JFK on BA. Large woman with unbearable fishy stench.very helpful staff moved away all passengers in the vicinity.
I arrived feeling sick. Solution needs to be found or guidance when booking.