A British Airways flight to the UK was forced to make an emergency landing after toxic fumes left passengers and crew ill at 30,000ft.

Twelve passengers and five BA staff members became sick an hour after departing Dubai, prompting the captain to turn back. Emergency crews lined the runway as Flight BA0108 landed.

“It was clear there was little preparation for such an event,” one passenger told The Sun. The five crew members reportedly required ongoing medical attention.

BA downplayed the incident, describing it as “a minor technical issue.”

A BA spokesperson added: “The aircraft returned to Dubai International Airport due to a minor technical issue.

“The vast majority of customers were rebooked onto same-day alternative flights to get them to their destination as soon as possible.”

The emergency comes weeks after another BA aircraft was struck by lightning during severe floods in São Paulo, Brazil. The Airbus A350 was hit directly on its vertical stabilizer while parked at Guarulhos International Airport.

The London-bound plane required safety inspections before departure, while 21 other flights were diverted due to the extreme weather conditions. (Businessday)