A Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) flight was forced to declare an emergency while fying over the UK due to a medical crisis on board. Flight SK537 from Copenhagen to Dublin took off at 10.45am local time on Wednesday. Towards the end of its two-hour journey, it reportedly alerted air traffic control (ATC) to a developing situation.
While cruising at an altitude of 38,000 feet and initiating its descent into Irish airspace, the Airbus A320neo issued a squawk 7700 code – the international radio code for a general emergency. According to reports, the call was made at 11.36am UK time, with the plane getting a priority approach into Dublin Airprt because a passenger on board required immediate medical attention.
ATC cleared a path for the SAS plane and allowed it to bypass standard arrival patterns. By 11.56am, it had touched down in Dublin, and by 12.01 it arrived at Gate 106 so the passenger could receive medical attention.
The specific nature of the medical emergency and the identify of the passenger are not yet known.
SAS has been contacted for comment.
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It indicates the aircraft is in distress, requiring immediate priority handling, such as for emergency landing, due to issues like engine failure, medical emergencies, or severe technical faults.
In the case of a medical emergency, it allows the crew to divert and land immediately with ambulances waiting.