Emirates says 'sorry' after Love Island's Jack Fowler 'had allergic reaction and almost died' on flight

Former Love Island star Jack Fowler has called for nuts to be removed from in-flight menus after he claimed he 'almost died' when he ate a meal onboard an Emirates plane. The reality star took to social media to call out what he says was the 'complete negligence' of Emirates staff on a recent flight.

The 28-year-old had to use his EpiPen and needed five tanks of oxygen while having a severe allergic reaction on a flight to Dubai after a chicken curry he was served had nuts in it. Fowler said he made cabin crew aware of his severe nut allergy and was reassured the meal did not contain nuts.

It was only until his 'throat closed up and breathing became extremely difficult' that he realised there were nuts in his food. Emirates has since issued a statement following the incident.

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An Emirates airline spokesperson said: "We are sorry to hear of Mr Fowler's experience and our teams on ground have been providing him with all possible assistance. The safety and health of our customers is taken very seriously.

"While Emirates aims to cater to customers with specific needs by offering a variety of special meals that cover medical, dietary, and religious requirements, we cannot guarantee a nut-free in-flight environment. We urge travellers with dietary or other medical requirements to check our website and consult their doctor before travel."

In a lengthy Instagram post, Fowler told fans of the flight ordeal. He said: "I made my flight attendant aware of my nut allergy twice before being given a chicken curry. I wasn’t given a menu to choose from, instead I was asked directly if I wanted chicken or fish. I opted for the chicken.

"When I asked for the chicken I told the air-host that I’m severely allergic to all nuts. I was then told that there was no nuts in the chicken curry.

"When I received the meal I asked the same flight attendant again to make sure, and again was told that it does not have nuts included. Trusting my flight attendant, I began to eat the chicken curry.

"Immediately my throat closed up and breathing became extremely difficult. I told a flight attendant I couldn’t breathe and if there was nuts in the food. I was told that there were no nuts in the chicken curry again."

Fowler - who appeared on the ITV2's Love Island in 2018 - told how his friend then 'demanded' to see the menu, discovering he had eaten a 'Creamy Cashew Nut Chicken Curry'. He added: "This left me with the real possibility of dying on the plane as I knew I needed emergency treatment immediately.

"I was given five tanks of Oxygen, as well as administering my Adrenaline Pen (EpiPen). I told the flight supervisor "If you don’t land this plane soon, I will die on this plane". This then lead to the pilot speeding up the journey."

Once the plane had landed, he was rushed to a hospital where he continued treatment. Fowler today appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain, describing the incident as 'extremely scary.

He said: "I really honestly trusted them and started to eat what I thought was something safe and it actually contains the one thing that I really couldn't have and that was cashew nuts, that is the worst nut for me. He added: "I just think "what is it going to take? What is it going to take until nuts are taken off flights completely?"

"The amount of people in my comments on Instagram, direct messaging, saying they are completely relating to what happened, whether or not it's them firsthand, it's their friends, it might be the parents of a young child who's also got an anaphylaxis to food. It's incredible that nuts are still served on flights.

"The rate of allergies in younger people is on the up. And I just feel like it's a sign of the times where people need to be looked after on these flights.

"Back in the day, you had some drink and some peanuts, but now things are changing and what is it gonna take? I think people need to really understand the severity of allergies and I think there's a lot of ignorance in some people."