low by the 'flu.

The Saturday night trip to London was delayed because 80 percent of the crew rostered to take the plane back were ruled by doctors to be unfit to fly.

And the flight was delayed until yesterday morning to allow the crew which brought the plane to the Island from Gatwick to have a mandatory 24 hours rest-up before flying back.

British Airways Bermuda spokesman Sallie Singleton said: "It's a case of safety first -- we honestly could not allow the ill crew to fly.

She added: "But it is rather unusual. I don't remember this ever happening before. The doctors, however, did not feel the replacement crew was fit to fly.

"It was quite a late decision -- they were hoping they would be better, but they took longer to recuperate, so the crew which came in had to rest and then they took the aircraft back.'' Now the flu-stricken crew -- including flight and cabin staff -- will have to wait until tomorrow at the earliest before they can return to the UK.

Mrs. Singleton said: "I think they will have enough rest by then, but we'll just have to wait and see.'' But she said BA bosses had not ruled out flying in another crew to take tomorrow's plane back to London if the laid-up team were not fully fit and able to fly.

Mrs. Singleton added where the crew picked up the 'flu bug was a mystery. Both Britain and Bermuda have currently been hit by a powerful 'flu virus.

She said: "I don't know where they got it -- I don't think anybody does, but there is a tremendous amount of 'flu in Great Britain.

"It seems to be a very nasty virus -- but we don't anticipate any problems on Tuesday, although it's really a bit early to say.

The flight delay came as BA announced it will become the first airline in the world to install heart monitors and hi-tech electric heart jump-start machines in its aircraft.

And Bermuda is set to be among the first places to benefit, because long-haul flights are set to be the first to be given the new kit.

According to UK medical experts, many lives a year are lost on aircraft and golf courses because of a lack of heart equipment.

'Flu grounds flight And they recommended the heart start machines, called defibrillators, should be standard equipment on planes and in clubhouses.

Ms Singleton said: "I know BA had been looking at this and this decision is great.

"There are probably quite a few heart attacks on planes over the whole network and if this can save even one life, it'll certainly be well worth it.'' She added: "I consider BA to be the best airline in the world and we are at the forefront of the latest developments in comfort and safety.'' BA's London-based medical director Dr. Sheila Mooney announced the move at the weekend.

The airline will begin training its 14,500 cabin crew in the use of the new machines next month.

And Dr. Mooney said that within a year, the entire BA fleet will have cardiac monitors linked by satellite to medical experts on the ground, who will then advise cabin crew on treatment.

Long-haul flights will get the first machines in April.

The defibrillators assess patients' heart rythym and decides if they need to be shocked and if so, at what level.

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