A Jet2 flight from Tenerife to Birmingham was forced to divert to Porto after the pilot suffered a suspected heart attack mid-air
The plane landed in Portugal after the pilot became unwell(Image: Howard Lloyd)
A Jet2 flight was forced to make an emergency landing after the pilot suffered a suspected heart attack. Flight LS1266 was on its way from Tenerife to Birmingham when passengers began to notice something was wrong, reports the Mirror.
Cabin crew aboard the flight, which was carrying 220 passengers, were reportedly spotted rushing down the aisle in tears, and were heard asking whether anyone had medical training.
Passengers also said they felt a sharp decrease in altitude as the aircraft headed towards an unplanned landing in Porto, with the plane’s first officer taking control.
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“We were awoken by chaos,” one witness told The Sun, explaining that both they and their partner had been asleep when the situation began to unfold.
“Lights began flashing and hostesses who were visibly upset, seeking a doctor. Our two-year-old began crying like many other children onboard because the aircraft was dropping so quickly for an emergency landing.”
Video footage revealed how the plane, following a successful touchdown in Porto at 2.11am on Friday, was swiftly met by emergency services who treated the pilot, reports the Mirror.
“We were stranded in Portugal for over 13 hours without accommodation,” a passenger revealed. “They wouldn’t let us off the plane itself for over an hour. Then we were just left to wander around. There was nowhere to stay. They said accommodation was too expensive.”
The passenger noted they had “full sympathy” for the pilot. A pilot was dispatched by Jet2 from Manchester to Porto to assist in bringing the passengers home. Those on board were informed they could take advantage of a complimentary transfer onto a Jet2 flight heading to any of 14 UK destinations over the following week.
Jet2 reportedly said: “Flight LS1266 from Tenerife to Birmingham diverted to Porto on Thursday (21st May), due to one of the pilots feeling unwell. At no point was safety compromised, and customers subsequently continued their journey. We would like to apologise to customers for this unforeseen delay.”
The Mirror has approached Jet2 for further comment.
