Cruise ship passengers on Virgin flight from Barbados quarantined at Gatwick airport

An ambulance service spokesman told The Telegraph: “South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust was called to attend an in-bound flight at Gatwick at shortly before 5am today following reports of a number of passengers and crew feeling unwell and nauseous.

“We sent ambulance crews including our Hazardous Area Response Team and a number of other specialist paramedics to the scene.

“The crews have worked together on scene to assess and treat patients approximately 30 people, most of whom have been able to be discharged from scene with advice. Three patients are being taken to hospital for further checks.”

Sussex Police supported the paramedics and a spokesman said: “The aircraft was quarantined as a precaution, and all passengers and crew were escorted to a secure location, where they were checked over by the ambulance service.”

A Virgin Atlantic spokeswoman said: “A number of customers on board a charter flight from Barbados to London Gatwick this morning reported feeling unwell on board.

“The safety and well-being of our customers and crew is always our absolute priority, and local ambulance services attended the aircraft upon landing to provide medical assistance.

“We are working closely with London Gatwick Airport and medical teams to offer assistance to customers, and will conduct a full investigation into the circumstances.”

A spokesman for Swiss-based cruise line MSC Cruises, which operates MSC Preziosa, said: “We are still investigating what may have caused the illness and we are currently waiting for further updates from Gatwick Airport medical services.

“What we do know is that, on MSC Preziosa, no cases of acute gastroenteritis have been reported in the past 14 days.