A flight bound for Manchester had to turn back over the Atlantic due to a medical emergency, resulting in hundreds of passengers being stranded for over 24 hours. The TUI-operated flight originating from Mexico was on its way to Manchester but had to divert to Ireland’s Shannon Airport, where passengers had to wait for an extended period before flying back to Manchester.
The passengers finally arrived in Manchester on Sunday afternoon after departing Cancun more than 48 hours earlier. The flight, which took off from Cancun around 5:30 pm local time on Friday, made a U-turn mid-flight to land in Gander, Canada.
Reports from several passengers indicated that the medical emergency was related to alcohol consumption, though there are suggestions that the individual may have had an underlying medical condition, a claim disputed by TUI.
Following a brief stop in Gander, the plane proceeded only as far as Shannon Airport in Ireland instead of continuing to Manchester. TUI explained that legal restrictions and flight time constraints prevented the crew from flying further.
Upon landing in Shannon, passengers had to endure further delays, including a three-hour wait onboard while engineers addressed an electrical issue. Subsequently, passengers were asked to disembark with all their belongings due to a reported “technical issue.”
Due to the unavailability of hotel rooms, passengers were left stranded at the airport. Some travelers, like Nicole Higgins from Wakefield and newlyweds Claire and Jamie from Harrogate, expressed frustration over the ordeal, highlighting the disruptions to their travel plans.
A spokesperson from TUI UK&I confirmed the diversion to Gander due to the medical emergency and assured passengers that alternative flights to Manchester had been arranged. Passengers were also informed of their entitlement to compensation for the inconvenience caused. TUI expressed apologies for the disruptions and emphasized their efforts to ensure the safe return of all passengers to Manchester.