A Ryanair flight bound for Spain was forced to divert after the crew declared an emergency while flying over the UK, according to flight-tracking data. Flight FR2522, operated by a Boeing 737-800, transmitted a squawk 7700 signal, the standard code used by pilots to indicate a general emergency, shortly before midday.
Details of the diversion
The aircraft had taken off from Glasgow Airport at 10.50am and was en route to Alicante–Elche Airport, where it had been scheduled to arrive at 2:55pm local time. After declaring the emergency at 11.56am while at an altitude of around 11,950ft, the plane was diverted to Newcastle International Airport, touching down safely at 12.07pm.
It wasn't immediately clear what prompted the crew to transmit a squawk 7700. The Express has reached out to the airline for a comment.
Previous Ryanair incidents
This comes after, last month, a Ryanair flight heading to Edinburgh declared a mid-air emergency moments before it was due to land. Flight-tracking information showed that Ryanair flight FR2522 transmitted a squawk 7700 signal while flying near Glasgow shortly before midday.
A Ryanair spokesperson said at that time: "Flight FR6123 from Gdansk to Edinburgh (1 Sept) called ahead as a precaution before landing at Edinburgh Airport after a passenger became ill on board. Crew called ahead for medical assistance to meet the aircraft upon landing at Edinburgh Airport. The passenger was disembarked and met by medics."
Earlier this year, an incident involving a cabin window on a Ryanair plane prompted another emergency alert. Flight-tracking data indicated the aircraft had been airborne for only about 10 minutes when it suddenly lost around 9,000ft (2,700m) of altitude, prompting concern among those on board.
Passenger window incident
Passengers later told local media they heard what they described as "some kind of explosion" shortly before the rapid descent. In a statement, Ryanair said its Friday morning flight from the Greek city of Thessaloniki to Germany's Memmingen returned "shortly after take-off when a passenger window dislodged in flight".
"The aircraft landed normally and passengers returned to the terminal. One passenger requested and received medical assistance on the ground in Thessaloniki," the Irish budget airline said. It added that "a replacement aircraft was arranged to bring passengers to Memmingen" several hours later.
