A Ryanair flight bound for Spain has declared a mid-air emergency and is currently backtracking toward the United Kingdom after diverting over the English Channel.
Flight FR7842, operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8200 (Registration: EI-HGM), departed Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK) at 07:31 BST this morning. The aircraft was scheduled for a routine flight to Murcia (RMU) and had reached a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet.
The Incident
A little over an hour into the journey, while positioned off the coast of Normandy, the flight crew transmitted a Squawk 7700 code,the international signal for a general emergency.
Flight tracking data shows the aircraft performing a sharp turn-back maneuver over the Channel. While the specific nature of the emergency has not yet been confirmed by the airline, the decision to return to the UK rather than continuing to Spain suggests a situation requiring immediate attention at a suitable maintenance or base hub.
Flight Profile
- Origin: Glasgow Prestwick (PIK)
- Destination: Murcia (RMU)
- Aircraft: Boeing 737 MAX 8-200
- Emergency Code: 7700 (General Emergency)
- Current Status: Descending and returning to the UK.
Developing Story
Passengers on the ground in Murcia awaiting the return leg of this aircraft can expect significant delays. Ryanair has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the technical status of the aircraft or the wellbeing of those on board, though the flight remains under radar contact and is currently descending toward a UK airfield.
This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available from Ryanair and Air Traffic Control (ATC) services.
Updates
- The flight is diverting to London Stansted.
- Touch down on runway 04 at 09:10 BST, 1 hour and 39 mins after takeoff.
