A British Airways flight bound for New York's JFK Airport from London Heathrow was forced to divert to Cape Verde after a passenger suffered a medical emergency mid-flight.
The incident occurred on BA 183, which departed Heathrow on Tuesday. The crew swiftly assessed the situation and made the decision to land at Amilcar Cabral International Airport in Cape Verde to ensure the passenger received urgent medical attention.
Passengers reported that the cabin crew acted professionally, administering first aid while the pilots coordinated the unscheduled landing. Local medical teams were on standby upon arrival.
"The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is always our top priority," a British Airways spokesperson said. "We apologise for the inconvenience caused to other passengers as a result of this diversion."
The flight eventually continued to New York after a several-hour delay, arriving at JFK significantly behind schedule.
Such diversions, while uncommon, highlight the importance of crew training for medical emergencies during flights. Aviation experts note that diversions for medical reasons occur approximately once every 604 flights globally.
