Pilots have reported 167 cases of toxic cabin fumes or smoke in only four months , official safety figures reveal . Twelve of the cases resulted in the pilots requesting a priority landing , one flight was diverted and on two flights the pilots made an emergency Mayday call . Among the worst cases , one incident report in February noted : ‘ Fumes in cabin . Eleven of the cabin crew became unwell during flight , with symptoms of light-headedness , nausea and “ sea sickness ” . Oxygen administered . Aircraft returned. ’ Victim ? It is suspected British Airways pilot Richard Westgate , who died in 2012 , had Aerotoxic Syndrome . The figures have re-opened the argument about whether prolonged exposure to the air in planes is safe for passengers and crew . Details emerged in a report broadcast last night by ITV News , which has seen copies of the Civil Aviation Authority ’ s safety reports from December 2014 to March 2015 . These reveal 167 cases of fumes or smoke in the cabin , not attributable to faulty ovens , coffee brewers or toilets . In February a coroner warned that airlines must take action to prevent passenger deaths from toxic fumes inside aircraft cabins . Dorset coroner Sheriff Payne said pressurised air tainted with jet fuel is risking the lives of everyone travelling on planes . He issued the warning after initial investigations into the death of British Airways pilot Richard Westgate in 2012 . The 43-year-old , from Marlborough , Wiltshire , had suffered years of persistent headaches , nausea and chronic fatigue , which he long suspected was caused by toxic fumes in cockpits . Mr Payne ’ s warning came days after the Daily Mail revealed how the poisoning fears over air in holiday planes had sparked accusations that airlines had been ignoring safety concerns for 15 years . The coroner ’ s intervention was the first official recognition of Aerotoxic Syndrome , thought to be linked to memory loss , tremors , lethargy , headaches , tinnitus , confusion , breathing difficulties and even death . Safety questions : Pilots have reported 167 cases of toxic cabin fumes or smoke in only four months . The figures have re-opened the argument about whether prolonged exposure to the air in planes is safe . Warning : Dorset coroner Sheriff Payne said pressurised air tainted with jet fuel is risking the lives of those travelling on planes . It followed initial investigations into the death of British Airways pilot Richard Westgate . Many former pilots , co-pilots and aircrew staff believe they have suffered long-term illnesses because of the amount of time they have spent exposed to cabin air and ‘ toxic fumes ’ . The pilots ’ union BALPA has raised concerns . Since 1999 , the air industry has denied a link between ‘ fume events ’ and medical problems . But a growing number of experts warn prolonged exposure is hazardous . The problems are thought to arise when cabin air is drawn from the hot engines . Passengers are usually isolated from this ‘ bleed air ’ – but airlines accept that sometimes there is a leak and jet fuel contaminates the air with compounds called ‘ organophosphates ’ . In small quantities , these compounds may not be harmful – campaigners say it is most likely to create problems for frequent fliers and airline staff . The Civil Aviation Authority said several expert studies on cabin air quality have been carried out in recent years . ‘ The overall conclusion has been that there is no positive evidence of a link between exposure to contaminants in cabin air and possible long-term health effects – although such a link can not be excluded , ’ it added . ‘ Passenger and crew safety is of paramount importance to the CAA and we are constantly working to enhance safety standards . ’
Pilots reported 167 cases of toxic cabin fumes or smoke in Mayday . Twelve cases led pilots to request priority landing , with four months call in two . Reignited debate on whether prolonged exposure to air in planes is safe . Many former pilots and aircrew think they 've suffered long-term illnesses .