TUI Flight BY6754 declared an emergency on September 28 shortly after takeoff from Cardiff.
Passengers on the Cyprus-bound jet reported vibrations, unusual noises, and a burning smell in the cabin. The Boeing 737-800 diverted to Birmingham where it landed safely with no injuries.
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TUI Flight BY6754 Emergency Landing Followed Extensive Circling Over South Wales
Flight tracking data from FlightAware shows TOM 6754 departed Cardiff at 16:28 BST bound for Paphos in Cyprus. Within minutes, the aircraft began circling west of the Welsh airport at 1,143 meters altitude. The Boeing 737 eventually climbed to 3,658 meters before turning northeast towards the West Midlands, transmitting the international emergency code 7700. The jet flew 305 miles despite the direct distance between Cardiff and Birmingham measuring just 100 miles, indicating multiple holding patterns to burn fuel before landing, with total flight time from departure to Birmingham touchdown reaching 1 hour 2 minutes.
Holidaymaker Describes “Silence” in Cabin After Left Side Vibration
Dave Preece, 56, from Tycroes in Carmarthenshire, was aboard the flight when the incident began.
“There was silence, people looking at each other and thinking ‘what is going on here,'” Preece told BBC News. “There was a feeling something had gone wrong but no explanation given so for a lot of people that was the most scary part.”
Passengers aboard flight BY6754 experienced:
- Vibration coming from the left side of the aircraft
- A rumbling noise that created immediate unease
- A burning smell in the cabin
- Views of recognizable landmarks including Tata Steel’s Port Talbot works as the jet circled at low altitude
According to Preece, the captain later made an announcement about “engine failure,” which left passengers “in shock.”
Airline Denies Engine Fault, Says Bird Strike Caused Precautionary Diversion
TUI Airways issued a statement contradicting passenger accounts of mechanical failure. “To confirm, there was no engine failure. There was a bird strike after take-off and the diversion that followed was a precautionary routine procedure,” a company spokesperson said. The Aviation Safety Network documented the incident as a bird strike on departure from Cardiff, with the aircraft registered as G-TAWY diverting approximately one hour after becoming airborne. Neither TUI nor Cardiff Airport has addressed why passenger accounts describe the captain announcing engine failure while TUI maintains the diversion resulted from a bird strike.
Birmingham Operations Suspended for Incoming Emergency Aircraft
Operations at Birmingham Airport were halted for approximately 30 minutes to accommodate the diverted flight. Four fire appliances and multiple emergency vehicles were positioned on the runway as the Boeing 737 approached. The jet touched down safely on runway 33 at 17:30 BST. All passengers and crew disembarked without injury once the aircraft taxied to its stand around 17:40 BST.
A Birmingham Airport spokesperson confirmed standard emergency protocols: “In line with normal procedures the airport’s Fire Service met the aircraft on arrival. It landed safely and taxied to the apron.”
Cardiff Airport emphasized passenger safety remained their priority throughout the incident.
The Boeing 737-8K5, manufactured in 2012 and powered by CFM56 engines, will require full inspection before returning to commercial service.
Passengers Miss Evening Arrival in Cyprus After Three Hour Delay
The diverted flight was originally scheduled to reach Paphos at 20:45 BST that evening. TUI arranged alternative travel for affected passengers to continue their journeys to Cyprus, though the emergency caused substantial delays to holiday plans.
In August, operations were similarly suspended when a light aircraft made an emergency landing at Birmingham Airport. Additional transport incident coverage at Newzire.
The unexplained discrepancy between the announcement passengers report hearing aboard the flight and TUI’s official bird strike explanation remains unresolved.
