Family says they were left stranded in Lisbon after 'Exorcist-like' vomiting outbreak on TAP flight
Passengers from Leamington Spa report mass vomiting after an in‑flight meal and say airline staff rerouted them to a later flight, leaving them to arrange overnight accommodation and medication themselves.
A family of five from Leamington Spa says they were left stranded in Lisbon after several members fell violently ill on a TAP Air Portugal flight and began vomiting as the aircraft landed, prompting the airline to rebook their connection to a flight more than 24 hours later.
Bianca and David Perry, both 45, and three children — Lauren, 15; Belle, 11; and William, 8 — had returned from a six‑week trip to Brazil when the group says William became ill after the in‑flight dinner. The family says Belle, David and Bianca were subsequently struck down while the eldest, Lauren, who did not eat the meat casserole served on board, remained well. By the time the flight reached Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport on Sept. 2, the family says they were vomiting at the gate and other passengers watched as the situation unfolded.
The Perrys told media they asked airline staff for immediate assistance, including a wheelchair for David, who was recovering from oral surgery and had stitches. They said airline personnel treated them as a "problem" rather than offering medical help, and advised them not to board their connecting flight because of their illness. The family accepted rebooking onto a later flight but say they were not told the alternative departed at 7 p.m. the following day, Sept. 3. Unable to stay at the airport, the Perrys say they were left to arrange and pay for a hotel and transport themselves; Bianca said they booked a room that cost about £330 a night.
At the hotel, the Perrys said the illness continued. Bianca described having to push her husband through the lobby as he repeatedly vomited and said she and her children had to rinse vomit‑soaked clothes in the sink. On returning to the U.K., the family reported further problems with TAP handling their baggage. Bianca said one suitcase containing essential menopause medication was initially missing and another arrived damaged. When the missing bag was located, the Perrys say the airline gave them the choice of collecting it themselves or paying a £45 delivery fee; David went to collect the case because the medication was urgently needed.
The family told reporters they suspected the in‑flight meal was the source of the illness and said they observed other passengers appearing unwell after the same flight. Bianca described the airline’s response as "truly distressing," saying staff showed a lack of empathy and assistance while the family was in a vulnerable state.
TAP Air Portugal was approached for comment; the family’s account was reported to a U.K. news outlet.
Public health experts say suspected foodborne illness on flights can be difficult to confirm without laboratory testing of clinical samples or the implicated food, and that a range of causes — including viral gastroenteritis and bacterial food poisoning — can produce sudden vomiting. The Perrys’ claims have not been independently verified in reports available to the news outlet that first published the family’s account.
The Perrys declined to provide documentation of any medical diagnosis in the media accounts published. Airline‑passenger disputes over in‑flight illness and post‑flight assistance are typically handled through carrier customer‑service channels and, where illness is confirmed, may involve public health authorities or regulators depending on jurisdiction and the nature of the incident.
The family said they are left unsettled by the experience and have criticized the airline for what they describe as poor treatment and a lack of practical support while they were ill away from home.