An easyJet flight bound for Iceland was compelled to make an unexpected landing in Edinburgh after severe weather conditions prevented its arrival at the intended destination.
Flight Details and Unexpected Diversion
Flight U22261 departed from Manchester Airport at 5.45pm on Thursday, December 28, with a scheduled arrival in Reykjavik, Iceland, for 6.40pm local time. However, the journey was disrupted as the aircraft approached Keflavik Airport, Iceland's primary international hub. Data from the flight tracking service FlightRadar24 confirmed the plane was forced to alter its course away from Iceland.
The airline cited adverse weather and critically low visibility at the destination airport as the reasons for the diversion. Consequently, the Airbus touched down at Edinburgh Airport in Scotland at approximately 10.20pm that evening.
Passenger Impact and Airline Response
With weather forecasts indicating no imminent improvement in conditions, the decision was made for the aircraft to return to its origin. The flight subsequently went back to Manchester, where it landed in the early hours. All passengers were rebooked onto a rescheduled service the following day.
In an official statement, easyJet expressed regret for the significant inconvenience. "We have been doing all possible to minimise the impact for our customers and are providing hotel accommodation and meals," a spokesperson said. They emphasised that passenger and crew safety was the highest priority and classified the disruption as an "extraordinary circumstance" outside of the airline's control.
A Wider Context of Travel Disruption
This incident occurred amidst a challenging period for air travel. In a separate event also on December 28, a Ryanair flight from Birmingham to Tenerife South was forced to turn back mid-flight after encountering severe turbulence over France, resulting in reported passenger injuries.
Furthermore, earlier in the week, operations at a Spanish airport were temporarily halted after wild boars accessed the runway, causing two flights to divert. These events collectively highlight the varied and unpredictable nature of aviation disruptions, ranging from meteorological challenges to wildlife encounters and in-flight emergencies.
Passengers affected by the easyJet diversion were advised to check the airline's website for the latest updates regarding their rescheduled travel arrangements.
