EasyJet flight U22253 was forced to turn back almost as soon as it left the ground due to a medical emergency on board. The plane made an unscheduled precautionary landing back at Manchester Airport
A passenger aircraft was declared an emergency just moments after taking off from Manchester Airport.
EasyJet flight U22253 was forced to abandon its climb following a medical incident aboard. The service had been bound for Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt when it was forced to return on Thursday (May 21).
Flight tracking information shows the aircraft suddenly abandoned the five-hour journey to the holiday resort almost immediately after becoming airborne. It ceased its ascent at 3,700 feet.
The aircraft, an Airbus A320neo, has the capacity to transport between 150 and 180 passengers based on the airline’s seating arrangement.
The flight crew broadcast the Squawk 7700 signal through the aircraft’s transponder. This transmission notifies all nearby air traffic control centres of a general airborne emergency, reports the Mirror.
The pilots subsequently worked through a sequence of emergency protocols to ensure the aircraft was correctly prepared for a rapid return before the plane turned back towards Manchester Airport.
The aircraft executed an unplanned precautionary touchdown back at Manchester Airport after the required procedures were completed.
Regional emergency teams and airport fire services were positioned to greet the twin-engine aircraft on arrival, following standard protocol during an unscheduled landing of this nature.
The carrier subsequently confirmed the flight was redirected owing to a medical emergency aboard, Air Live reports.
This follows another easyJet flight being forced into an emergency landing after a traveller left a mobile phone charging on a powerbank in their luggage.
The easyJet aircraft was en route from Hurghada in Egypt to Luton, but was compelled to make an emergency landing in Rome at 11.30pm on Tuesday.
The 180 passengers aboard were stunned when the captain declared: “There’s something we shouldn’t have in the hold.”
The airline’s subsequent flight from Rome to Luton was scheduled for 2pm on Wednesday. Travellers were accommodated in hotels or had to sleep in the terminal.
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