Emirates flight EK31, travelling from Dubai International Airport to London Heathrow, declared a mid-air emergency and diverted to Frankfurt after a passenger fell ill onboard. The Airbus A380 sent out an alert approximately six hours into the journey, with the aircraft landing safely at Frankfurt Airport.
Flight details and emergency declaration
The flight departed Dubai at around 11.30am local time (7.29am BST) on 1 October. About six hours later, the crew issued a '7700 squawk code', a signal pilots use to indicate an in-flight emergency requiring immediate priority handling from air traffic controllers. This code is typically used for mechanical failures, onboard safety threats, medical emergencies, or escalating situations.
Emirates confirmed that the diversion was caused by a medical emergency involving a passenger. The airline stated that cabin crew provided assistance during the flight, and medical support was arranged upon arrival in Frankfurt. The passenger disembarked to receive further medical attention.
Airline statement and continued journey
A spokesperson for Emirates 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."
The same aircraft was expected to continue its journey to London Heathrow later in the evening, with a scheduled departure from Frankfurt at approximately 18:00 local 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."
Impact and passenger assistance
The diversion caused a delay for passengers on board, but the airline emphasised that the health and safety of passengers and crew remains its top priority. The aircraft's safe landing in Frankfurt allowed the affected passenger to access immediate medical care, while the flight was scheduled to resume its route to Heathrow later that evening.
