448 Virgin Atlantic passengers screened after reported illness on flight from Barbados to London

Virgin Atlantic says "a number of customers" on a charter flight from Barbados to London were given medical assistance by local ambulance services near London Gatwick Airport after reports of illness.

In a statement to USA TODAY Wednesday, the airline's spokesperson Caitlan Fowler said out of 448 customers onboard, approximately 50 reported feeling unwell.

"The screening process onboard took around four hours to ensure that the medical authorities could undertake thorough checks and effectively adhere to standard health and safety procedures," the statement read. "Customers were tended to on the aircraft, and have now departed to continue their journeys."

One passenger tweeted that the passengers had all been on a cruise ship in the Caribbean and that it is believed the illness originated on the ship and not on the plane.

He said the sickness appeared to involve a bad cough and possible chest infection.

The airline said it is conducting a full investigation into the circumstances.

Contributing: The Associated Press

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