A US-bound flight diverted to Shannon Airport this afternoon after the crew declared a medical emergency.
Austrian Airlines flight OS-35 was travelling from Vienna in Austria to New York’s JFK International Airport at the time.
Shortly before 12.30pm, the flight crew contacted air traffic controllers to advise them of their situation. The flight was passing south of Shannon Airport and continued past the Clare coastline before turning back.
The crew reported that a passenger, understood to have been a middle-aged male, was suffering from chest pains.
Authorities at Shannon Airport were advised of the diversion while the National Ambulance Service was also alerted and requested to dispatch resources to the airport.
In the meantime, the crew of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner confirmed they would need to dump fuel before commencing an approach to Shannon. The flight crew was cleared to jettison fuel over the sea, away from land. This is done to ensure an aircraft lands within safe weight limits.
The jet crossed the Irish coast south of Kilkee and entered a holding pattern for a short time before commencing fuel dumping procedures. Soon afterwards the crew confirmed they were ready to make an approach to Shannon.
Shannon Airport’s fire and rescue service was also alerted and crews deployed to designated holding positions adjacent to the runway in advance of the jet’s arrival.
The flight landed safely at 12.55pm and taxied to the terminal accompanied by airport fire crews. The flight was met at the terminal but airport staff and medical personnel.
The passenger was assessed at the airport before being removed to University Hospital Limerick for treatment.
The flight continued its journey to the US at 2.15pm.
On October 16th last, the same flight, operated by a different aircraft, also diverted to Shannon with an ill patient.
