A TUI flight traveling from the UK to Cyprus had to change its course following an in-flight emergency caused by a “bird strike.”
The Boeing 737, identified as flight TOM 6754, was en route to Paphos in Cyprus when the incident took place at 4:30 pm on Sunday shortly after departing from Cardiff. The aircraft was redirected to Birmingham.
Emergency services were on standby at Birmingham Airport as the plane landed. Flight tracking data displayed the aircraft circling Swansea Bay at an altitude of around 3,000 feet before ascending to 12,000 feet and making its way towards the West Midlands for landing.
After circling to burn off excess fuel, passengers and crew safely disembarked from the plane upon its landing at 5:30 pm. The aircraft was greeted on the runway by four fire trucks and other emergency vehicles.
A TUI spokesperson confirmed that the emergency was triggered by birds in close proximity to Cardiff Airport during takeoff. The decision to divert the flight was a precautionary measure.
They clarified, “There was no engine failure. A bird strike occurred post-takeoff, and the subsequent diversion was a standard safety procedure.”
A representative for Cardiff Airport stated, “We are aware of the incident involving flight TOM6754 from Cardiff to Paphos. The safety of our passengers remains our top priority. The aircraft was diverted to Birmingham Airport (BHX) and safely landed around 17:30.”
In a recent incident at Birmingham Airport, all flights were halted for several hours due to an occurrence involving a light aircraft on the runway, resulting in one person sustaining injuries.
Numerous flights were rerouted from the airport on August 5, with some facing significant delays. The official Birmingham Airport Twitter account announced the closure of the runway at 2:48 pm, followed by the closure of security and check-in services two hours later.
A photo from the scene depicted a white light aircraft surrounded by emergency vehicles on the runway. West Midlands Police reported minor injuries to one individual following the emergency landing of a small aircraft at the airport.
The police force stated, “We are currently at Birmingham Airport following an emergency landing involving a small aircraft around 1:40 pm.”
The Mirror has reached out to TUI for a statement.
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