An Emirates Airbus A380 flying from Dubai to London Heathrow was diverted to Frankfurt on Thursday after a passenger experienced a medical emergency during the flight.
Emirates confirmed that flight EK31 landed safely at Frankfurt Airport on October 1. Cabin crew provided assistance to the passenger while the aircraft was still airborne, and medical support was arranged for its arrival in Germany.
EK31 declared an emergency over Europe
Flight EK31 departed Dubai International Airport at approximately 11:25 a.m. local time and was scheduled to fly directly to London Heathrow.
While crossing European airspace, the Airbus A380 transmitted Squawk 7700, the international transponder code used by aircraft to indicate a general emergency. The aircraft then changed course toward Frankfurt.
The emergency code itself does not identify the nature of an incident. However, Emirates later confirmed that the diversion was caused by a medical emergency involving a passenger.
Passenger received medical attention
According to Emirates, cabin crew assisted the affected passenger during the flight.
Medical personnel were prepared to provide further assistance after the A380 landed in Frankfurt. The passenger then left the aircraft to receive additional medical attention.
Emirates did not disclose the passenger's identity, medical condition or further details about the emergency.
Aircraft landed safely in Frankfurt
The A380 landed safely at Frankfurt Airport following the diversion.
Emirates said the aircraft was expected to continue from Frankfurt to London Heathrow at approximately 6 p.m. local time. The unexpected stop resulted in delays for passengers traveling to London.
The airline apologized to customers for the disruption and said passenger and crew safety remained its highest priority.
Why Squawk 7700 attracts attention
Squawk 7700 is one of the most closely watched aviation emergency codes because it alerts air traffic controllers that an aircraft requires priority assistance.
It can be activated for many different situations, including medical emergencies and technical problems. In the case of EK31, the airline's subsequent statement established that the reason was a passenger medical emergency.
The safe landing in Frankfurt brought the immediate emergency phase of the incident to an end, while the remaining passengers faced an unexpected delay before continuing to London.
