Emirates A380 Flight EK31 to London Diverts to Frankfurt After Passenger Falls Ill

Airlive reports that about six hours into the flight, at 40,000 feet over Europe, the crew transmitted squawk code 7700. That is the international signal for a general emergency. The aircraft then descended and asked to divert to Frankfurt Airport.

Emirates said the cabin crew helped the passenger during the flight. It said medical support was arranged for when the plane landed. The passenger left the aircraft in Frankfurt to receive further medical attention.

Airlive says Emirates cited "operational reasons" when confirming the diversion, and also reports the airline indicating it was a medical emergency. The Dubai Media Office statement gives the medical cause.

What happens to passengers

The flight was expected to continue to Heathrow later the same day. Sources give slightly different timings. Anadolu says the Dubai Media Office gave around 6 pm local time, and The Times of India says the airline gave the same time. Airlive lists a 17:30 local departure from Frankfurt. Passengers should check the airline for the latest schedule.

Emirates is reportedly rebooking affected connecting flights and will send updated itineraries to passengers.

Why people are paying attention

The diversion comes a day after another Gulf-region flight incident. Flydubai flight FZ1073, carrying 174 passengers from Dubai to Tel Aviv, made an emergency landing at Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia after an altercation was reported in the cockpit. Anadolu says the passengers later continued on another aircraft provided by Flydubai.

The Times of India has described that incident as an alleged cockpit attack. Its wording is that one pilot reportedly stabbed the other. That detail is not confirmed in the other sources here.

Nothing in the sources links the Emirates diversion to the flydubai incident. Emirates attributes it to a passenger's medical emergency.

What happens next

The sources do not say how the passenger is doing.