An EasyJet service from Copenhagen to Manchester diverted to Newcastle Airport late Monday night after a passenger became seriously unwell over the North Sea, prompting the crew to declare an emergency mid-flight.
Carrying 178 passengers and six crew, the Airbus A320 landed at 10:52pm GMT on October 27. Paramedics waiting at the airport transported the passenger to the Royal Victoria Infirmary before the aircraft continued to Manchester at 12:02am.
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Flight Crew Activated Emergency Protocols
Flight U22238 departed Copenhagen at 10:13pm CET, running half an hour behind schedule. As the aircraft flew over the North Sea, cabin crew alerted the flight deck that a passenger required urgent medical attention beyond the capabilities of the onboard medical equipment.
The captain transmitted squawk code 7700, the universal signal alerting air traffic control that an aircraft needs priority handling. Controllers immediately began coordinating with Newcastle Airport to prepare for the incoming diversion.
FlightAware tracking data showed the jet, registered G-EZPB, altered course while cruising at 38,000 feet and began descending towards the Tyneside coast.
Air Traffic Control Cleared Path for Emergency Aircraft
As the EasyJet crew communicated with controllers, other aircraft in the area were instructed to make way for the priority landing. An Air France service from Paris was placed in a holding pattern above Newcastle while airport staff positioned emergency vehicles.
North East Ambulance Service received the alert at 10:33pm GMT. “We dispatched an ambulance crew to the scene and transported one patient to the Royal Victoria Infirmary for further treatment,” a service spokesperson confirmed to Chronicle Live.
The aircraft touched down on Runway 25 at 10:52pm GMT. Fire crews and paramedics surrounded the jet while passengers remained on board as they attended to the ill passenger.
Passengers Reached Manchester After Delay
Ground staff refuelled the aircraft and completed safety checks during the unscheduled stop. The flight departed Newcastle at 12:02am GMT on Tuesday, October 28.
Timeline of Events:
- 10:13pm CET: Departure from Copenhagen
- 10:33pm GMT: Ambulance service contacted
- 10:52pm GMT: Landing at Newcastle Airport
- 12:02am GMT: Departure for Manchester
- 12:29am GMT: Arrival at Manchester Airport
The other 177 passengers completed the 27-minute flight to Manchester nearly two hours behind schedule.
Aircraft and Safety Checks
The A320-200, which entered service with EasyJet in February 2016, underwent standard post-incident checks and showed no technical faults.
Medical emergencies prompt flight diversions when cabin crew determine a passenger needs hospital treatment. Crew members receive training to assess whether a condition can be managed with onboard medical kits or requires urgent intervention.
In this case, the crew’s decision to divert to Newcastle ensured the passenger received medical care within minutes of landing. Guidance on handling in-flight medical situations comes from the UK Civil Aviation Authority, though the final decision to divert rests with the captain.
Newcastle’s location on England’s north-east coast made it the nearest suitable airport. The emergency related solely to the passenger’s medical condition, with no other injuries reported among those on board. The passenger’s condition has not been disclosed.
EasyJet addressed the incident in a statement: “Flight EZY2238 from Copenhagen to Manchester on October 27 diverted to Newcastle due to a customer onboard requiring urgent medical attention. The customer was met by medical services on arrival and the flight continued to Manchester. The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is always EasyJet’s highest priority.”
