A flight heading to Manchester from Mexico had to turn back over the Atlantic due to a medical emergency, causing over 24 hours of delay for hundreds of passengers. The travelers were left stranded at Shannon Airport in Ireland as they awaited the completion of their journey after the unexpected U-turn.
After departing Cancun more than 48 hours prior, the passengers finally landed back in Manchester on Sunday afternoon. The flight, which initially took off from Cancun on Friday around 5:30 pm local time, redirected to Gander, Canada, midway through its route.
According to some passengers who spoke to the Manchester Evening News, the medical emergency was reportedly related to alcohol, although there are suggestions that the individual had an underlying health issue, a claim disputed by TUI.
Following a brief stop in Gander, the aircraft flew to Shannon in Ireland instead of continuing to Manchester due to flight time restrictions and legal constraints preventing the crew from flying further, as per TUI’s explanation.
Upon disembarking at Shannon Airport, passengers encountered hours of waiting in the departures lounge. Subsequently, they faced an additional delay of three hours, including time spent in darkness, as engineers addressed an electrical problem.
Passengers were instructed to deplane once more at Shannon due to a “technical issue,” requiring them to take all their belongings with them. TUI arranged for the passengers to return to the departures lounge in the early hours of the next morning.
As a result of the flight diversion, TUI noted that all hotel accommodations were fully booked at Shannon Airport. Passengers shared their frustrations, with one individual expressing disbelief at the series of unfortunate events they had experienced.
A TUI UK&I spokesperson acknowledged the diversion of flight TOM147 to Gander due to the medical emergency and commended the crew for their swift response. TUI assured that alternative flights were arranged for all passengers, offering compensation for the inconvenience caused and advising on reimbursement for hotel expenses.
The airline apologized for the disruptions and reassured passengers of their commitment to ensuring a safe return home for everyone affected by the incident.