SHANNON- A Lufthansa (LH) transatlantic flight was diverted to Shannon Airport (SNN) today following a medical emergency on board involving a passenger in distress. The aircraft was en route from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Frankfurt Airport (FRA) when the incident occurred.
Lufthansa Flight LH451, operated by an Airbus A340-300, had departed LAX around 03:00 AM Irish time for a scheduled 10.5-hour flight to Germany. The emergency prompted a diversion to Ireland after a mid-flight urgency was declared.
Lufthansa Flight Diverted to Shannon
Shortly before noon, the flight crew contacted Irish air traffic controllers, issuing a “Pan-pan” call — a standard international radio signal used to indicate an urgent but non-life-threatening situation. This was in response to a male passenger in his 60s collapsing mid-flight, the Clare Herald reported.
Cabin crew initially assisted the passenger, but his deteriorating condition led the flight crew to request a medical diversion to the nearest suitable airport. Shannon Airport (SNN) was selected due to its proximity and capability to handle such situations.
Upon receiving the alert, authorities at Shannon coordinated with the National Ambulance Service, which deployed an ambulance and an advanced paramedic unit to the airport.
The Airbus A340 landed safely at 12:30 PM local time. Emergency medical teams, including paramedics and a standby fire crew, met the aircraft upon arrival. The passenger was assessed on the ground and then transferred by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick for further treatment.
The aircraft remained at Shannon for approximately one hour before resuming its journey. Lufthansa LH451 departed again around 1:30 PM, continuing its flight to Frankfurt (FRA) without further incident.
The incident followed standard aviation safety protocols, with minimal disruption to the remaining passengers and crew. Lufthansa has not released the medical condition of the passenger, citing privacy concerns.
Similar Incident
A United Airlines (UA) flight from New York (EWR) to Edinburgh (EDI) declared a medical emergency shortly before landing, prompting an immediate response from emergency personnel at the airport.
Flight UA36, operating from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Edinburgh Airport (EDI), issued a 7700 squawk code—signaling a critical onboard emergency—due to a passenger’s medical issue during the final stages of its transatlantic journey.
United Airlines (UA) Flight UA36 was nearing its scheduled arrival at Edinburgh when the flight crew reported an onboard emergency by transmitting the universal 7700 squawk code. The distress signal, issued at approximately 9:53 AM local time on Monday, prompted urgent coordination between air traffic controllers and airport emergency teams.
Despite the alert, the aircraft continued its descent and landed safely at Edinburgh Airport (EDI). Emergency medical teams were pre-positioned and ready upon arrival, boarding the aircraft immediately to provide assistance to the affected passenger.
The medical emergency’s exact nature was not publicly disclosed, but the response was swift. The United Airlines spokesperson stated, “Upon its scheduled arrival at Edinburgh Airport, United Flight 36 was immediately met by emergency services to assist a customer’s medical situation.”
Once the aircraft reached the gate, responders moved quickly to attend to the individual. Reports indicate the crew handled the in-flight situation professionally, enabling the passenger to receive appropriate medical care without delay. Authorities have not released further details about the passenger’s identity or condition due to privacy policies.
The aircraft involved continued to be processed for its next scheduled operation following routine safety and maintenance checks. No further disruption to United’s service from EWR to EDI has been reported.
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