A Jet2 flight from Tenerife to Birmingham was forced to divert to Portugal after the pilot suffered a suspected heart attack mid-flight. The incident occurred on Jet2 Flight LS1266, which was cruising at 30,000 feet in the early hours of Friday, May 22. The aircraft, carrying 220 passengers, made an unscheduled landing at Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport near Porto, Portugal.
Passengers Describe Chaos Onboard
Passengers reported that cabin crew rushed down the aisle asking if anyone had medical training. Lights flickered during the rapid descent, and children cried as the plane lost altitude quickly. One passenger told The Sun: "My partner and I were asleep when we were woken by chaos. Lights began flashing and hostesses who were visibly upset, seeking a doctor. Our two-year-old began crying like many other children on board because the aircraft was dropping so quickly for an emergency landing."
Emergency Response and Aftermath
The aircraft landed in Porto at 2:11 am local time, and emergency services boarded immediately. Medical staff attended to the pilot in the cockpit before he was taken to a hospital. Passengers remained on board for over an hour before disembarking and then spent about 13 hours in the terminal while the airline arranged a replacement crew. A pilot flew in from Manchester to take travellers to Birmingham on a different aircraft. One passenger said: "We were stranded in Portugal for over 13 hours without accommodation... There was nowhere to stay. They said accommodation was too expensive."
Jet2 Statement
Jet2 said the incident was due to one of the pilots feeling unwell. In a statement, the airline said: "Flight LS1266 from Tenerife to Birmingham diverted to Porto on Thursday (21st May), due to one of the pilots feeling unwell. At no point was safety compromised, and customers subsequently continued their journey. We would like to apologise to customers for this unforeseen delay."
