Welcome Aboard Toxic Airlines, made by a former pilot who had to quit his £100,000-a-year job on health grounds, will have its premiere at the festival in November.

Director Tristan Loraine - who had to give up his job flying Boeing 757 jets after suffering health problems he believes were caused by toxic fumes that contaminated his plane's cabin air supply - funded the movie himself to expose what he describes as the "asbestos of the skies".

Loraine, who helped form the Aerotoxic Association with other grounded pilots, believes that the system of "bleeding" cabin air from the aeroplane engines exposes passengers and crews to dangerous toxins present in jet engine oil. The damaging effects of these poisonous chemicals can range from short-term headaches, dizziness and nausea to long-term neurological problems.

Said Loraine: "When I lost my health and my job, there was a payout of £200,000. And, against the advice of other people, I've used that money to make a film about it.

"The film has cabin crews from Australia and North America telling of their stories of how their health has been affected by this problem which has been covered up by the aviation industry for decades.

"However, no current serving crew in the UK was able to give an interview. They are too scared of losing their jobs.

"And no airline or aerospace company in the world was prepared to give an interview, although we asked about 70 to take part in the film."

? Welcome Aboard Toxic Airlines will be screened at the Foyle Film Festival at the Nerve Centre on Thursday, November 29 at 8pm.