Five workers rushed to hospital after 'radioactive materials leak from suitcase'

20 February 2024 , 15:39

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The Swiss Air flight landed in Barcelona (Image: Getty Images)

A suspected radioactive substance has leaked from a suitcase at an airport and seen five workers rushed to hospital.

A plane landed at an airport in Barcelona, Spain and the "low-intensity radioactive material," reportedly "spilled from a suitcase" which was understood to have contained medical supplies. It had been loaded on to the Swiss Air flight, which arrived at Terminal One at the Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat airport.

Levels of radiation are being checked in the area which is currently cordoned off, with the public banned from getting anywhere near. There were 127 passengers and five crew members on board the plane which travelled from Zurich, Switzerland.

All those on the plane are understood to have been confined for hours following the incident, first on a plane and then in a room at the airport. Spanish authorities said they are currently at low risk.

Government of Catalonia spokeswoman Patricia Plaja said that those who had been hospitalised were "seriously affected people". She added that a dozen crews from the Generalitat Fire Department were sent with material to be able to work in the area. The chemical risk unit of the UIS Medical Emergency System was also activated, she said.

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A regional emergency response coordination centre said: "The emergency contingency plan for radiological emergencies has been activated this morning over a radioactive source inside an aircraft."

Kelly-Ann Mills