A transatlantic jet was forced to make an emergency landing at Shannon Airport this morning after a passenger on board suffered a heart attack.
United Airlines flight UA-972 was en route from Chicago in the U.S. to Brussels, Belgium when the crew declared an emergency and requested permission to divert to Shannon.
At around 6.40am, while the Boeing 777-200 was still over the Atlantic and about 500 kilometres north west of Shannon, the crew confirmed they had a female passenger in the forward cabin whom they suspected was in cardiac arrest.
The flight was cleared to change course and route towards Shannon while the crew requested emergency medical services to be standing by.
A HSE ambulance and rapid response advanced paramedic unit along with a local doctor were waiting for the flight when it landed shortly after 7.30am.
The woman was rushed to University Hospital Limerick for treatment.
The flight was able to continue it’s journey to Brussels once a new flight plan had been filed and the ill passenger’s baggage had been located and removed in accordance with security procedures.
It was the airport’s second medical emergency in recent days and third diversion in a fortnight.