Cameron Callaghan, 27, fell seriously ill on a flight to Bangkok, claiming a chicken meal was to blame for his distressing ordeal.
A British holidaymaker experienced severe illness during a flight from Manchester Airport to Bangkok via Abu Dhabi on January 6, 2025. Cameron Callaghan, a 27-year-old from Bolton, Greater Manchester, described the ordeal as a ‘flight from hell’, following what he claims was a ‘smelly’ chicken meal served by Etihad Airways.
Prior to boarding, Callaghan consumed an egg sandwich at the airport, remaining without any adverse effects during a three-hour wait. However, his condition rapidly deteriorated after consuming a tomato and chicken pasta dish offered shortly after take-off. Just 20 minutes after eating, he began to suffer from diarrhoea and vomiting uncontrollably, reportedly throwing up around 30 times during the six-hour flight.
In his account of the journey, Callaghan recounted lying in the foetal position on the bathroom floor. When he was not in the cockpit, he spent time with an air hostess who helped keep the toilet cubicle available for him, as he was forced to make frequent visits every five minutes. By the time the flight arrived at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, he was profoundly dehydrated, unable to lift his head, and required assistance to disembark the aircraft in a wheelchair.
Upon arrival, medical staff conducted an urgent assessment, providing Callaghan with an intravenous drip and anti-sickness medication. He reported being bed-bound for the first few days of his holiday in Thailand, claiming the experience severely hampered his ability to enjoy the trip. “I was so weak, I couldn’t walk. I just felt like I was going to pass out. I’d fully dehydrated my body by being sick that much,” he explained.
Callaghan believes the in-flight meal was responsible for his sickness, arguing that the timing of his symptoms indicates food-related issues. “It was a flight from hell,” he stated, highlighting his embarrassment as fellow passengers witnessed his struggle in the lavatory. He expressed frustration with the airline’s response, asserting he is seeking a refund for the flight due to what he perceives as unprofessional handling of the situation.
In response to the claims, an Etihad Airways spokesperson commented, “We take all such matters very seriously and investigate thoroughly… Our food on this flight, as with all our flights, was prepared and stored under strict temperature-controlled conditions to ensure safety and quality. We did not receive any reports of illness from other passengers on this flight who were served the same meal.”
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.timesnownews.com/world/uk/flight-from-hell-uk-man-pukes-30-times-after-eating-pasta-on-plane-article-119070990 – This URL corroborates Cameron Callaghan’s experience of severe illness during a flight after eating a pasta dish on Etihad Airways. It also includes Callaghan’s belief that the meal was not stored properly and Etihad’s response to his claims.
- https://www.ladbible.com/community/bolton-man-etihad-airways-pasta-sickness-wheelchair-865984-20250314 – This article supports the account of Callaghan’s illness, including the specifics of his condition and the help he received during the flight.
- https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/passenger-pukes-30-times-during-6-hour-flight-after-eating-smelly-pasta-7934223 – NDTV covers the story, focusing on the ‘smelly’ pasta meal that reportedly caused Callaghan’s severe illness.
- https://www.noahwire.com – This is the source of the original article, though specific details may not be verified without direct content access.
- https://www.courts.michigan.gov/492eca/siteassets/publications/benchbooks/evidence/evidbb.pdf – While unrelated to the specific flight incident, this document discusses legal aspects related to evidence and court proceedings, which could be relevant in cases of disputes or investigations into such claims.
- https://www.mass.gov/guide-to-evidence/article-xi-miscellaneous – Similar to the previous entry, this document provides legal context that could be relevant in discussions about evidence in investigations or legal proceedings related to claims like Callaghan’s.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The incident mentioned occurred on January 6, 2025, indicating that the information is current and not recycled from older articles or press releases.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
Direct quotes are present from the holidaymaker, but the original source of these quotes could not be verified online, as this could be the first report of the incident. However, they appear to be genuine given the context.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from a reputable local news outlet (WalesOnline), which generally indicates a level of reliability. However, the outlet’s global recognition might not match larger or more internationally recognized news sources.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claim of food poisoning from an in-flight meal is plausible, as such incidents can occur, but the severity of symptoms reported could raise questions. Lack of further details from other passengers or independent evidence makes it difficult to fully confirm the specific circumstances.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears to be current and directly reports on a specific incident without clear signs of being outdated or unverified. However, while the source is local and generally reliable, the story’s plausibility is somewhat tempered by the severity of the symptoms described and the absence of additional corroborating evidence.
