Emirates flight EK31, travelling from Dubai International Airport to London Heathrow, diverted to Frankfurt Airport on 1 October after a passenger fell ill on board. The aircraft had departed Dubai at around 11:30am local time (7:29am BST) and sent out an emergency alert about six hours into the journey before landing safely in Frankfurt.
Medical emergency prompted diversion
Emirates confirmed that a medical emergency involving a passenger was the cause of the diversion. A spokesperson for the airline 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."
Flight expected to continue to London
The same aircraft was expected to continue its journey to Heathrow in the evening, with a scheduled take-off at approximately 18:00 local Frankfurt time (5pm BST). 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."
The flight issued a '7700 squawk code', a signal pilots use to declare an in-flight emergency requiring immediate priority handling from air traffic controllers. This code can indicate mechanical failures, onboard safety threats, medical emergencies, or other escalating situations.
