Airbus Atlantic nightmare as 700 staff off sick after Christmas dinner

23 December 2023 , 08:22

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Airbus is the largest aircraft maker in the world, and Airbus Atlantic is a subsidiary of the company (Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)

More than 700 Airbus Atlantic staff in Western France are thought to have fallen ill after eating the company's Christmas dinner, according to health authorities. Workers from the aerospace group's site experienced vomiting and diarrhoea, the ARS health agency said.

It's not known what was on the menu at the celebratory feast before it turned into a far from festive affair, BBC News reports. Airbus is the largest aircraft maker in the world, and Airbus Atlantic is a subsidiary of the company.

Across five countries there are 15,000 people employed by the cooperation. No details were provided by ARS of what food might have made people so violently ill at dinner, which happened last week.

The Airbus group hires 134,000 people and offers products and services in the aircraft, helicopter, defence, space and security industries (AFP via Getty Images)

Speaking to the AFP news agency, the organisation said an investigation was being launched to identify the source of mass food poisoning. The Airbus group hires 134,000 people and offers products and services in the aircraft, helicopter, defence, space and security industries.

Following a separate incident in France at the start of this year, several people fell ill and a Greek citizen died, having contracted the rare food-borne sickness botulism at a restaurant in Bordeaux.

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