A transatlantic jet has made an emergency landing at Shannon Airport this evening after a passenger was reported to have fallen ill.
British Airways fight BA-223 was travelling from London Heathrow airport to Nashville in the US state of Tennessee at the time. The flight was about 170 kilometres west of Loop Head in Co Clare when the flight crew advised air traffic controllers that they wished to turn around and divert to Shannon Airport.
The crew issued a Pan-pan radio message and confirmed they were declaring a medical emergency. It’s understood that a female passenger suffered a suspected cardiac episode.
A doctor who was on board the flight assessed the patient while the flight crew also made contact with professionals at a dedicated medical support centre to seek additional assistance. The crew was advised to divert to the nearest available airport and seek medical treatment.
Authorities at Shannon Airport were alerted to pending diversion and the National Ambulance Service was contacted and requested to mobilise paramedics to the airport. An ambulance and rapid response paramedic vehicle were dispatched to the airport.
The flight crew also confirmed they would need to dump aviation fuel before commencing their approach to Shannon. This was to ensure that the aircraft touched down within safe landing weight limits.
The crew of the Boeing 777-200(ER) jet was directed to take a northerly heading to ensure that they jettisoned the fuel over the ocean and not land. Once the crew had completed the fuel jettison procedures, they commenced their approach to Shannon. The flight landed safely at 6.25pm.
Airport fire and rescue service vehicles, which had been placed on standby ahead of the jet’s arrival, followed the aircraft along the runway after it landed and accompanied it to the terminal where ambulance paramedics were waiting.
The woman was taken by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick for treatment.
The flight resumed its journey shortly after 8.30pm.
