All crew and passengers on a Virgin flight had to be quarantined after an outbreak of sickness on the flight.

Everyone on board the VS610 flight from Barbados to Gatwick was medically assessed after an outbreak of ‘coughing sickness.’

It is believed five crew members became unwell after the flight landed at Gatwick around 5.20am this morning.

All staff and passengers on Virgin flight have had to be quarantined Trevor Wilson @trevwilson19 3h3 hours ago More Currently been stuck on plane at #gatwick for 90 mins due to sickness on board! Now told we are being taken to a holding centre to be assessed! https://twitter.com/trevwilson19/status/1103186422675238912
Emergency vehicles greeted the flight at Gatwick this morning

Around 30 people received medical treatment at the scene and three were taken to hospital for further checks.

Police boarded the plane in masks and took all 448 people on board to a holding area where they were assessed.

The flight is believed to have been specially chartered following a cruise on board the MSC Preziosa in Barbados.

Passenger Trevor Wilson said they were held on the flight for 90 minutes before being transferred to a holding centre to be checked over.

He added he thought that the illness seemed to have originated on board the ship and not the plane.

Mr Wilson said several travellers came down with ‘flu-like symptoms’ and coughing.

Virgin Atlantic said: ‘A number of customers onboard the VS610, which landed at London Gatwick this morning from Barbados, reported feeling unwell.

‘As a precaution the plane was met by the relevant authorities who made the decision to screen everyone onboard, in line with standard health and safety procedures.

‘The well being of our customers and crew is always our priority, and we are supporting those affected.

‘Customers have now left the aircraft and can continue their journeys as normal.’

A spokesman for Swiss-based cruise line MSC Cruises, which operates MSC Preziosa, said: ‘We are still investigating what may have caused the illness and we are currently waiting for further updates from Gatwick Airport medical services.

‘What we do know is that, on MSC Preziosa, no cases of acute gastroenteritis have been reported in the past 14 days.’