A transatlanticflight diverted to Shannon Airport this afternoon after the crew declared a medical emergency over the Atlantic.
Aer Lingus flight EI-69 took off from Dublin at around 3.50pm on an 11-hour flight to Los Angeles on the US west coast. The Airbus A330-200 jet was about 300 kilometres west of the Ireland when the flight crew advised air traffic controllers that they could be turning back and diverting.
The crew later confirmed they had a male passenger in his late 50s who was receiving medical assistance from a doctor on board. After the passenger had been assessed, a decision was made to turn back and land at Shannon to seek medical assistance.
The crew issued Pan-pan radio call which, although not as serious as a May-day, still indicates an urgency on board. The crew requested that a ‘cardiac ambulance’ be available for their arrival at Shannon.
The flight made a U-turn and rerouted to Shannon Airport, landing safely at 5.12pm.
The patient was assessed at the airport by ambulance paramedics before being removed to University Hospital Limerick for further treatment.
The flight resumed its journey at 7.20pm.
