Emirates flight EK31, travelling from Dubai International Airport to London Heathrow, was diverted to Frankfurt after a passenger fell ill on board. The crew issued a "squawk 7700" emergency signal approximately six hours into the flight.
Flight details and diversion
The Airbus A380 departed Dubai at around 11:30 am local time (7:29 am BST) and landed safely at Frankfurt Airport roughly six hours later, according to The Mirror. Emirates confirmed the diversion was due to a medical emergency involving a passenger.
Emirates statement
An Emirates spokesperson said: "Emirates can confirm that flight EK31 from Dubai to London Heathrow diverted to Frankfurt on 1 October due to a medical emergency involving a passenger onboard."
"Our cabin crew provided assistance during the flight, and medical support was arranged on arrival. The aircraft landed safely in Frankfurt, where the passenger disembarked to receive further medical attention."
Journey continuation
The same aircraft is expected to continue its journey to Heathrow this evening, with a scheduled take-off at approximately 6pm local Frankfurt time (5pm BST). The spokesperson added: "We apologise to customers for the delay. The health and safety of our passengers and crew is always our highest priority."
The 7700 squawk code is used by pilots to signal an in-flight emergency requiring immediate priority handling and assistance from air traffic controllers, covering situations such as mechanical failures, onboard safety threats, medical emergencies, or unclear and escalating situations.
