Brit passengers on New York flight horrified as luggage arrives 'covered in human faeces'

By Hanna Geissler, Health Editor

Luggage arrives in New York covered in brown substance

Passengers on a flight from London to New York have been left horrified after some of their bags arrived covered in a substance that smelled like human faeces. Video footage shared with the Express showed suitcases splattered with a brown substance at John F. Kennedy International Airport’s baggage reclaim.

Passenger Taz McGlynn, 29, a hospital pharmacist who flew in premium economy, said: “We got through immigration really quickly. I was waiting for about five minutes for my bag and then we all started noticing a horrible smell. It looked like mud but it smelled really bad. I work in a hospital and it was worse than some of the human waste I’ve been exposed to on wards. Some people were getting really angry, the airport police came.”

Bags arrived covered in a brown substance that resembled mud (Image: Express)

Virgin Atlantic, which operated the flight VS009 from Heathrow Airport, confirmed that a "small number" of bags had been damaged but said the damage occurred after the bags had arrived JFK Airport.

A spokesperson for the airline said JFK Airport had identified the substance as grease from a pipe that developed a leak in a baggage tunnel.

However, Ms McGlynn added: “I don’t believe it was grease. I know what I smelled. I work in a hospital on a stoma ward. I got it on my hands, feet and jacket.”

Ms McGlynn said she transferred her belongings to plastic bags then bought a new suitcase. She estimated that around 30 passengers were affected.

Other passengers who commented on the incident on social media also believed the substance was human faeces.

Ms McGlynn bought another suitcase and repacked her belongings (Image: Express)

Affected travellers are understood to have been offered advice on how to clean their baggage or given the option for their bags to be professionally cleaned by a biohazard team.

A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: "We're aware of a New York JFK system failure that has affected the baggage of a small number of arriving customers.

“We're working closely with the team at JFK and local authorities to ensure the issue is resolved. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused to affected customers.”

If the substance was a biohazard, exposure could pose a health risk due to harmful bacteria, viruses or parasites that can cause gastrointestinal infections and other illnesses.

Prof Azeem Majeed, head of the department of primary care and public health at Imperial College London, said: “Passengers with contaminated luggage should ideally wear disposable gloves when handling the luggage and wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water afterwards. If these hygiene precautions are followed, the risk of infection is low.

“Suitcases with hard surfaces can be cleaned and disinfected. If the suitcase is made of a porous material or has a lingering smell that cannot be removed, it may be best to discard it to prevent ongoing exposure to any pathogens.

“Clothes and other washable items inside the suitcase should be washed at a high temperature (ideally 60°C or above). Any items that are visibly contaminated or difficult to clean effectively may need to be thrown away.”

Prof Majeed added: "Any passenger who develops symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain or fever should seek medical advice."