A Jet2 flight from Tenerife to Birmingham was forced to make an emergency landing in Portugal after the pilot suffered a suspected heart attack mid-flight. The incident occurred on Flight LS1266, which was cruising at 30,000 feet with 220 passengers on board in the early hours of Friday, May 22.
The aircraft made an unscheduled landing at Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport near Porto. Passengers reported that cabin crew rushed through the aisle asking for anyone with medical training, and described lights flickering during a rapid descent that caused children to cry.
One passenger told The Sun: 'My partner and I were asleep when we were woken by chaos. Lights began flashing and hostesses who were visibly upset, seeking a doctor. Our two-year-old began crying like many other children on board because the aircraft was dropping so quickly for an emergency landing.'
The plane landed at 2:11 am local time, and emergency services boarded immediately. Medical staff attended to the pilot in the cockpit before he was taken to hospital. Passengers remained on board for over an hour before disembarking and spent approximately 13 hours in the terminal while a replacement crew was organised.
A pilot flew from Manchester to take passengers to Birmingham on a different aircraft. One passenger reportedly said: 'We were stranded in Portugal for over 13 hours without accommodation... There was nowhere to stay. They said accommodation was too expensive.'
Jet2 confirmed the diversion was due to a pilot feeling unwell, stating: 'At no point was safety compromised, and customers subsequently continued their journey. We would like to apologise to customers for this unforeseen delay.'
