VIRGIN Atlantic passengers have been horrified to find their luggage covered in foul-smelling poop and urine in a travel nightmare.
The airline was forced to break its silence after a traveler shared a video of the nasty aftermath, saying, “They didn’t even tell us!!!”
After arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York City, travelers made a revolting discovery on Monday.
Following a five-hour flight from London Heathrow Airport to New York, passengers proceeded to the baggage carousel to collect their suitcases and stretch their legs.
That’s when they were met with the horrifying sights and smells of their luggage covered in what appeared to be human excrement.
“You arrive in New York on a Virgin Atlantic flight and find they’ve dumped the plane’s toilet waste (poo & wee) on your suitcase,” posted TikTok user Sosan, using the handle @sosafoods on her TikTok account.
The post has amassed over 3 million views and over 190,000 likes.
“It was the worst thing I’ve ever smelled in my life,” Sosan wrote.
“They didn’t even tell us!!!”
The video shows at least seven mid-sized suitcases splattered in a revolting brown substance.
It’s unclear if the material came from the plane like Sosan said.
Waste from airplane toilets are typically stored in tanks and then removed by ground crews with special vehicles, equipment, and disposal methods to avoid biohazards like these.
POINTING FINGERS
Virgin Atlantic insisted it’s not their fault and that the damage happened in the baggage tunnel at the airport.
“We’re aware of a New York JFK system failure that has affected the baggage of a small number of arriving customers,” a spokesperson for the airline told The U.S. Sun.
“We’re working closely with the team at JFK and local authorities to ensure the issue is resolved.
“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused to affected customers.”
JFK didn’t return The U.S. Sun’s requests for comment.
Virgin Atlantic’s full statement
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson shared the following statement with The U.S. Sun:
“We’re aware of a New York JFK system failure that has affected the baggage of a small number of arriving customers.
“We’re working closely with the team at JFK and local authorities to ensure the issue is resolved.
“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused to affected customers.”
Customers with damaged bags were told by officials how best to clean their baggage, the airline said.
Passengers were also said to have been given the option for their bags to be professionally cleaned by a biohazard team.
‘NO ANNOUNCEMENT’
However, Sosan claims there was no announcement made to the flyers.
“No announcement, no help, no gloves – NOTHING!!” she wrote in the comments of the post.
Another passenger shared a picture of their suitcase, covered in filth, on X with the same complaints.
“How are all these bags covered in human s**t!” the customer said.
“Floor staff saying they can’t provide wipes, new bags or hand sanitizer and that we have to ‘write an email to customer team.’
“All my clothes destroyed as I have a fabric bag,” they said.
Virgin Atlantic responded to the post and told the customer to contact their customer care team.
