On Saturday evening, an EasyJet flight from Hurghada to Manchester had to be urgently diverted to Athens following a medical emergency involving the captain.
Approximately two hours into the flight, cabin crew members rushed to the front of the plane after the pilot collapsed, causing passengers to realize something was amiss quickly. One passenger told Manchester Evening News, “At first, we thought it was a passenger, as not much was said other than screams asking if anyone was medically trained. A few passengers got up and assisted the crew.”
The cabin crew then pulled a screen across the front of the aircraft to obscure the situation from view.
“The cabin crew later informed us that the captain had fallen unwell and sought medical attention. We were told we’d be updated on what would happen next,” said the unnamed passenger.
As the situation unfolded, passengers became increasingly anxious as they were informed the flight would make an emergency landing in Athens. One passenger recalled a fellow traveler having a panic attack due to the “rough” landing, which the remaining pilot managed.
Upon arrival in Athens, paramedics boarded the plane to assist the captain with medical treatment. EasyJet confirmed the incident by stating, “Flight EZY2252 from Hurghada to Manchester was diverted to Athens due to the captain requiring medical assistance. The First Officer performed a routine landing, and paramedics met the plane upon arrival.”
The airline also confirmed that the onward flight was delayed overnight, and passengers continued their journey to Manchester the following day. EasyJet arranged hotel accommodations and meals for those affected and issued an apology to passengers for the disruption.
“We did all we could to minimize the impact of the delay and thank passengers for their patience and understanding,” the airline said.
