LOS ANGELES — What was intended as a routine flight from London Heathrow (LHR) to Los Angeles (LAX) ended in a medical emergency for three British Airways (BA) cabin crew members. The staffers were rushed to a California hospital last week after unwittingly consuming sweets laced with high doses of THC, the psychoactive component in marijuana.
While it is a long-standing tradition for passengers to offer treats to flight crews as a gesture of thanks, this incident has sparked a major safety investigation within the airline.
1. The Incident: From “Grateful” to “Grounded”
According to reports first published by The Sun, the incident unfolded shortly after the aircraft landed in Los Angeles.
- The Gift: A passenger reportedly handed a bag of sweets to the crew during the long-haul flight.
- The Consumption: In a stroke of luck, the crew waited until they were on the crew bus traveling to their hotel before eating the treats.
- The Effect: Within minutes, three crew members who had eaten multiple sweets began suffering from intense “out-of-body experiences,” severe panic, and disorientation.
2. Potency and Medical Crisis
The sweets were later found to contain up to 300mg of THC—a massive dose considering a standard “beginner” edible typically ranges from 5mg to 10mg.
- Triage: The three affected staffers were hospitalized in Los Angeles as their symptoms worsened.
- No Charges: BA has confirmed that the crew will not face disciplinary action or charges, as they were entirely unaware the food was drugged.
3. The Investigation: Tracing the Passenger
British Airways is treating the event with extreme gravity, noting that the outcome could have been catastrophic had the crew shared the sweets while at 30,000 feet.
- Passenger Search: The airline is currently reviewing flight manifests and CCTV to identify the passenger who distributed the items.
- Potential Charges: If caught, the traveler could face serious criminal charges, including reckless endangerment and administering a controlled substance.
4. A History of Disruptive Substances
This incident follows a string of drug-related disruptions for the airline in recent months:
- September 2025: A BA flight attendant, Haden Pentecost, was spared jail after being found naked and high on methamphetamines in a plane lavatory during a flight from San Francisco.
- February 2026: A ground worker was recently found to have caused over $220,000 in damage to a BA jet while allegedly under the influence of cannabis.