A transatlantic flight from Germany to the United States diverted to Shannon Airport this afternoon after the crew declared a medical emergency.
Lufthansa flight LH-438 was travelling from Frankfurt to Dallas, Texas and had already overflown Ireland when the crew contacted air traffic controllers to advise them of their emergency. There were 213 passengers and crew on board.
The flight was around 500 kilometres northwest of Shannon about midday when the crew turned around. As the Airbus A340-300 jet approached the Galway coast, it routed south while the crew carried out fuel dumping procedures. This was to ensure that the aircraft touched down within safe landing weight limits.
In the meantime, authorities at Shannon Airport were advised of the unscheduled arrival while the National Ambulance Service was also contacted and requested to dispatch resources to the airport. An ambulance and rapid response advanced paramedic unit were deployed to Shannon.
As the aircraft had dumped fuel fire crews were deployed to designated holding positions adjacent to the runway in advance of the jet’s arrival. This is standard procedure at Shannon for any aircraft that has dumped fuel or has to land over the aircraft’s maximum design landing weight.
The flight landed at 1.25pm and was followed along the runway but airport fire crews who also accompanied the jet to the terminal building where ambulance paramedics were standing by.
The flight resumed its journey at 2.45pm.