Union calls for public inquiry after BA steward inquest

Cabin crew union Unite is calling for a public inquiry into toxic cabin air following an inquest into the death of British Airways steward Matthew Bass, even though the coroner said he was not poisoned.

Recording a verdict of death by misadventure, Berkshire senior coroner Peter Bedford ruled Mr Bass, aged 34, died in 2014 of cardiac arrest after drinking four times the legal drink-drive limit.

Mr Bass had previously complained of long-term fatigue, disgestive problems and weight-loss, leading his family to fear he had died of aerotoxic syndrome caused by long-term exposure to organophosphates, toxins whicih sometimes seep into the cabin.

Although organophosphates were found in Mr Bass’s body during a post-mortem investigation in the Netherlands, which was paid for by his parents after an initial investigation in the UK failed to determine a cause of death, three expert doctors said they were unlikely to be the cause of death.

‘What is clear to me and that is now accepted, to the family’s credit, is that none of the evidence available to me, for a variety of reasons, is that the cause of Mr Bass’s death can, on the balance of probabilities, be in any way explained by the exposure to organophosphates, or any form of poisoning, that led to aerotoxic syndrome," said the coroner.

"’I reject that on the evidence and adopt the three experts’ evidence. Not ruling it out completely as an entity, but specifically to Mr Bass’s death.

"Where this leads me is to the clear and obvious conclusion I hoped I could have ruled on three-and-a-half or more years ago."

However, Mr Bedford said he would write to the chief coroner suggesting additional tests are carried out during the post mortem where aerotoxic syndrome is suspected.

‘Where I’ve the knowledge of toxic air syndrome this is not reflected, in my view, generally across the coronial brother and sisterhood,’ he said.

‘I will adopt writing a letter to the chief coroner inviting him to consider alerting coroners in England and Wales where potential cases in which there are concerns raised to the coroner when the death is reported, it has to be early on in the process when the post-mortem process is available, to the consideration to other studies to assist with the potential of toxic air syndrome and the effects on the nervous system to be properly considered and investigated to assist that coroner to reach an appropriate cause of death.’

Unite said the letter ‘recognises that exposure to toxic cabin air does lead to a clinical impact on the body’.

Mr Bass, aged 34, had also worked for easyJet in a 15-year career.

He died at a friend’s house following a flight to Accra in Africa, after a night drinking wine and eating pizza with other colleagues. His friend said he fell asleep and didn’t wake up.

The union is handling more than 100 legal cases on behalf of cabin crew who believe they have suffered ill health from toxic cabin air, but airlines, Boeing and Airbus insist that research has found no evidence that exposure to potential chemicals in the cabin cause long-term ill health.

Unite assistant general secretary for legal services Howard Beckett said: "This significant step by a senior coroner recognises that exposure to toxic cabin air does have an impact on the body and can lead to ill health.

"All coroners will now be made aware of toxic cabin air and should commit to additional testing so we can get a greater understanding of its effects on cabin crew.

"Unite currently has over 100 legal cases that we are taking on behalf of cabin crew members whose health has been affected by toxic cabin air. The senior coroner’s letter of concern should act as a catalyst for a public inquiry into an issue the airline industry has consistently tried to brush under the carpet.

"Toxic cabin air is real and is damaging lives. The airline industry needs to face up to its responsibilities and deal with it."