Aircraft used by budget airline Flybe for routes from Belfast and British airports have been contaminated by fumes, it was reported today.
According to reports from BBC cabin crew and pilots are refusing to fly on some of the budget airline's aircraft because they claim polluted air could put lives at risk.
The BBC said some staff, including pilots, will not work on Flybe's BAe 146 planes because of concerns over possible engine oil contamination of the air inside the cabin.
A Radio 5 Live report alleges there have been leaks of contaminated air into cabins on some of Flybe's domestic flights in the past 15 months involving the aircraft.
During a trip from Birmingham to Belfast in July, two stewardesses collapsed after being overcome by fumes and all seven crew members had to be taken to hospital on landing, the BBC reported.
One unnamed flight attendant told Radio 5 Live: "I will not get back on the 146 again. I'm angry that my health has been put at risk." One of the company's pilots said that if he was asked to fly the 146 he would say "go take a walk".
But the Exeter-based company, which flies from several UK airports on 100 routes, said it was confident its planes were maintained to the highest industry standards.
There is no proven link between aircraft cabin air and ill-health despite the Government commissioning studies into the issue. The Department of Transport has ordered further tests to find out if cabin air is polluted.
Flybe said in a statement: "Flybe is completely confident that its aircraft are operated and maintained to the highest industry standards.
"In line with many previous public announcements, Flybe took a commercial decision several years ago to reduce the number of aircraft types operated from three to two.
"As a result the BAe 146 fleet will have been withdrawn by February 2008."