Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Pat Flynn

Rescue vehicles line Shannon Airport runway as transatlantic holiday flight declares emergency

A transatlantic holiday flight diverted to Shannon Airport this afternoon after the crew declared a medical emergency off the southwest coast.

TUI Airways flight TOM-044 was travelling from Gatwick Airport in England to Montego Bay on the Caribbean island Jamaica at the time. The Boeing 787-900 Dreamliner jet was about 100 kilometres south west of Ireland and 250 kilometres from Shannon Airport when the crew requested clearance to divert.

The flight crew told air traffic controllers they would need to dump aviation fuel to ensure they touched down within safe landing limits. As a result, Shannon Airport’s Fire and Rescue Service was alerted and requested to be on standby for the jet’s arrival. This is standard procedure at Shannon for aircraft that have jettisoned fuel before landing.

READ MORE: Flight declares emergency and diverts to Shannon Airport after young child falls seriously ill

After initially declaring a medical emergency, the crew later stated that their diversion was no longer an emergency but confirmed they required medical assistance for a passenger on arrival.

Once the crew had completed fuel dumping procedures over the Atlantic, the flight continued to Shannon, landing safely at 12.19pm. The flight was met on landing by airport fire crews and at the terminal by airport authorities and National Ambulance Service paramedics.

The patient, understood to be a woman in her 40s, was assessed and treated at the airport before being transported to University Hospital Limerick for further treatment.

The flight resumed its journey after 1.45pm after the aircraft was refuelled and the crew received a new flight plan.

READ MORE: Dunnes, Tesco, Lidl, SuperValu and Aldi all have unusual Monday opening hours today

READ MORE: Katie Taylor’s family life from father fallout to lavish US home to relationship controversy

Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.