Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The second petition, No. P00033/24, "Toxic fumes on Aer Lingus flights - Severe and increasing danger to public health and safety - Urgent", is from Mr. Thomas O'Riordan and states:

On the 5th of June 2023, whilst operating as a Captain on an Aer Lingus flight I was poisoned by toxic fumes and rushed to Beaumont hospital by emergency ambulance, where I stayed for five days. I had reported fumes on this particular aircraft when operating the previous day. We were assured the issue had been resolved, it was not. Aer Lingus failed to locate and isolate the source of the fumes. The aircraft was released for service in an unsafe state, putting both crew and public at high risk. After my poisoning, oil was found in the engine of the aircraft and the engine was removed. Aer Lingus have experienced 22 such fume events between January 2023 and January 2024. This is verifiable from internal data, along with information that the trend is increasing. This is a public danger issue, in that both crew and passengers may have experienced toxic fume exposure without their knowledge. The Department of Transport and A.A.I.U have failed to class my particular incident as a "serious incident" in alignment with I.C.A.O Annex 13, definition of a "serious incident". They have yet to confirm whether all 22 fume incidents were investigated and the outcomes. I hereby request that the issue of large scale and increasing amounts of fume poisoning of both passengers and crew on Aer Lingus aircraft be investigated and raised for discussion in Dail Eireann. This is an urgent matter of public health and safety. I along with a number of my colleagues suffer from long term effects of such poisoning. Such effects prohibit the ability to work and seriously curtail quality of life. Such effects also reduce life longevity. Action taken to resolve issue of concern before submitting the petition. - I Have attempted to have this issue investigated by the I.A.A, A.A.I.U.

- I Have attempted to have this issue investigated internally in Aer Lingus.

- I Have initiated a grievance procedure within Aer Lingus.

- I Have lodged a complaint with the H.S.A.

- I have raised the issue with the H.S.A and Dept of Transport

There have been responses back from the Department of Transport and the AAIU. The recommendation is that the correspondence from the petitioner be forwarded to the Department of Transport for comment within 14 days. Do the members have a view?