Emirates flight EK31, travelling from Dubai International Airport to London Heathrow, declared a mid-air emergency and diverted to Frankfurt after a passenger suffered a medical emergency.
The Airbus A380 squawked 7700 about six hours into the journey. The aircraft had departed Dubai at around 11.30am local time (7.29am BST) and landed safely at Frankfurt Airport roughly six hours later.
Medical emergency prompts diversion
Emirates said the diversion was caused by a medical emergency involving a passenger. The same aircraft is expected to continue its journey to Heathrow this evening, due to take off at about 6pm local Frankfurt time (5pm BST).
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."
Crew assistance and passenger care
"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."
The spokesperson added: "The flight is expected to continue its journey to London Heathrow at approximately 18:00 local Frankfurt time. We apologise to customers for the delay. The health and safety of our passengers and crew is always our highest priority."
Understanding the 7700 squawk code
The 7700 squawk code is declared by pilots when an aircraft experiences an in-flight emergency that requires immediate priority handling and assistance from air traffic controllers. Such emergencies include mechanical failures, onboard safety threats, medical emergencies or unclear or escalating situations.
