United Airlines is investigating reports that over 200 of its flight attendants and other employees at Denver International Airport fell sick due to the holiday meals provided by the airline.
Crew members reported experiencing severe gastrointestinal symptoms, including stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, shortly after eating the festive meal on Christmas Day.
Symptoms and Complaints
The meal, which reportedly included chicken and salad, has been identified as a potential source of the illnesses. Multiple cabin crew members took to social media to share their experiences, with some describing the chicken as undercooked and the salad as potentially tainted. One employee noted that the salad had an unusual taste, while others raised concerns that the meals may have been left at room temperature for too long.
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), the union representing United crew members, confirmed receiving numerous complains of illness. In a statement, the union said it is investigating the incident but has yet to determine the exact cause of the sickness. The union has encouraged all affected employees to report their symptoms.
Airline Response
A spokesperson for United Airlines stated that the company is “monitoring reports from some employees about gastrointestinal symptoms following holiday meals served to Denver employees on Christmas Day” and is in contact with health authorities. The airline emphasized that the incident has not impacted its operations and assured employees that they will not face disciplinary action or accrue sick points if they need to take time off due to the illness.
To date, at least 24 formal cases of food poisoning have been reported by flight attendants, but the total number of affected employees may be higher. Some reports indicate that entire crews fell ill, with at least one flight attendant becoming sick during a flight.
Historical Context and Precautions
This is not the first time an airline has faced issues related to food safety. Earlier this year, Delta Air Lines had to remove meat-based inflight meals from its Detroit flights after a food spoilage incident led to an emergency diversion. Similarly, last Christmas, over 700 Airbus employees in France experienced gastrointestinal illnesses after consuming a catered holiday meal.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that certain types of foodborne illnesses, such as Staphylococcus-related food poisoning, can manifest within 30 minutes of eating contaminated food. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea.
Employee Reactions and Union Concerns
United Airlines employees have expressed frustration and concern over the incident, with some joking that the airline might use this as a reason to discontinue holiday meals in the future. Others speculated that the airline’s new uniform rollout in 2025 might have inspired the incident, quipping that the illness could help them fit into the slimmer designs.
The AFA-CWA continues to advocate for affected crew members and is urging United to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and quality of future employee meals. The union’s internal memo acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and committed to identifying the root cause of the outbreak.
United Airlines has promised a thorough investigation into the incident and is working closely with health authorities to identify the source of the contamination. As of now, the airline has not announced any changes to its catering processes but is likely to implement stricter food safety protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
