Britons aboard a Jet2 flight were left shaken when their aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing after the pilot suffered a suspected heart attack.

Flight LS1266 was en route from Tenerife to Birmingham when travellers began spotting alarming signs. Flight attendants were spotted rushing through the cabin in tears, with 220 passengers on board, and were heard asking whether any travellers had medical training.

There was also a sudden drop in altitude as the aircraft diverted to an unplanned landing in Porto, with the plane’s first officer taking control. “We were awoken by chaos,” one witness told The Sun, explaining that both they and their partner had been sleeping when things started going wrong.

“Lights began flashing and hostesses who were visibly upset, seeking a doctor.”, reports the Mirror.

“Our two-year-old began crying like many other children onboard because the aircraft was dropping so quickly for an emergency landing.”

Video footage revealed how the aircraft, after touching down successfully in Porto at 2.11am on Friday, was swiftly met by emergency services who tended to the pilot.

“We were stranded in Portugal for over 13 hours without accommodation,” a passenger revealed. “They wouldn’t let us off the plane itself for over an hour. Then we were just left to wander around.

“There was nowhere to stay. They said accommodation was too expensive.”

The passenger added they had “full sympathy” for the pilot. A pilot was dispatched by Jet2 from Manchester to Porto to assist in their return. Passengers were informed they could opt for a free switch onto a Jet2 flight heading to any of 14 UK destinations over the following week.

Jet2 reportedly stated: “Flight LS1266 from Tenerife to Birmingham diverted to Porto on Thursday (21st May), due to one of the pilots feeling unwell.

“At no point was safety compromised, and customers subsequently continued their journey. We would like to apologise to customers for this unforeseen delay.”

Credits: Jet2

The post Jet2 plane makes emergency landing after pilot’s suspected mid-air heart attack first appeared on AircrewNews.com.

LONDON – Flight BA206, a regularly scheduled overnight service from Miami International Airport (MIA), departed at 5:22 PM EDT on Tuesday. The flight proceeded normally across the Atlantic for the majority of its seven-hour crossing.

The Emergency Declaration

The situation shifted rapidly as the Superjumbo, registered as G-XLEI, crossed into British airspace. While beginning its initial descent from a cruising altitude of 37,000 feet, the flight crew transmitted a Squawk 7700, the international radio code for a general emergency.

Sources indicate the declaration was prompted by a “very probable medical situation” involving a passenger or crew member on board, necessitating immediate clinical intervention on the ground.

A British Airways Airbus A380 traveling from Florida made an emergency landing at London Heathrow early Wednesday morning.

LONDON – Flight BA206, a regularly scheduled overnight service from Miami International Airport (MIA), departed at 5:22 PM EDT on Tuesday. The flight proceeded normally across the Atlantic for the majority of its seven-hour crossing.

The Emergency Declaration

The situation shifted rapidly as the Superjumbo, registered as G-XLEI, crossed into British airspace. While beginning its initial descent from a cruising altitude of 37,000 feet, the flight crew transmitted a Squawk 7700, the international radio code for a general emergency.

Sources indicate the declaration was prompted by a “very probable medical situation” involving a passenger or crew member on board, necessitating immediate clinical intervention on the ground.

Priority Arrival

Air Traffic Control (ATC) cleared the skies for the double-decker aircraft, granting it a direct approach to Heathrow’s Runway 27L. By bypassing standard holding patterns often seen at the world’s busiest dual-runway airport, the pilots were able to shave significant time off the arrival.

Flight Timeline:

• Departure: 5:22 PM EDT (Miami)
• Emergency Declared: Approx. 5:45 AM BST
• Touchdown: 6:24 AM BST (London)
• Total Flight Time: 8 hours and 2 minutes

Ground Response

The aircraft taxied directly to Terminal 5, Gate C64, where it was met by airport emergency services and medical personnel.

While British Airways has not yet released a formal statement regarding the specific condition of the individual involved, the airline’s priority remained the swift transfer of the patient to local medical facilities.

The Airbus A380 remains at Heathrow and is expected to return to service later today.

Credits: British Airways

The post British Airways A380 Declares Emergency Near UK Airspace first appeared on AircrewNews.com.