A Copenhagen to Manchester flight carrying 178 passengers made an unplanned landing at Newcastle International Airport on the evening of October 27, 2025, after a passenger fell critically ill mid-flight. The EasyJet crew declared an emergency over the North Sea, triggering an immediate response from UK air traffic control and emergency services.
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Emergency Declared Over North Sea
EasyJet flight U2238 departed Copenhagen at 10:13 PM local time, roughly 30 minutes behind its scheduled departure. The Airbus A320, registration G-EZPB, was cruising at 38,000 feet when the cabin crew alerted the flight deck to a passenger requiring urgent medical attention.
The pilots activated squawk 7700, the international emergency transponder code, and immediately contacted air traffic control. With Manchester Airport still about 30 minutes away, Newcastle offered the nearest suitable diversion point. Controllers cleared the flight for priority landing and notified ground emergency services.
An Air France flight inbound to Newcastle entered a holding pattern to clear airspace for the emergency landing.
Ambulance Crew Meets Aircraft on Tarmac
The A320 touched down on Newcastle’s runway 25 at 10:52 PM. Paramedics from North East Ambulance Service, dispatched at 10:33 PM, were waiting at the gate when the aircraft taxied in.
Medical personnel boarded immediately and assessed the passenger. After providing initial treatment, they transported the individual to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. EasyJet has not released details about the passenger’s condition, citing medical privacy.
The aircraft itself had no technical issues. The emergency stemmed entirely from the passenger’s medical situation.
Flight Timeline
October 27, 2025
- 10:13 PM CET: Departure from Copenhagen Airport (30 minutes delayed)
- Mid-flight: Passenger becomes seriously ill over North Sea
- 10:33 PM GMT: North East Ambulance Service receives emergency call
- 10:52 PM GMT: Aircraft lands at Newcastle on runway 25
- Approximately 11:00 PM: Paramedics board and treat passenger
October 28, 2025
- 12:02 AM GMT: Flight departs Newcastle for Manchester
- 12:29 AM GMT: Arrives Manchester Airport
Total delay to original schedule: approximately 1 hour 45 minutes.
Journey Resumes After Ground Stop
While paramedics attended to the ill passenger, ground crews refueled the aircraft. The remaining 177 passengers and six crew members stayed aboard during the hour-long stop at Newcastle. The flight crew provided updates throughout the delay.
At just after midnight, U2238 departed for the final 50-mile leg to Manchester. The 27-minute flight brought passengers to their intended destination in the early hours of October 28.
What Triggers Medical Diversions
In-flight medical emergencies account for hundreds of aircraft diversions across Europe annually. Airlines equip planes with medical kits and train crew in emergency response, but serious conditions require hospital care that only a landing can provide.
Medical situations that typically require diversion:
- Cardiac events and chest pain
- Stroke symptoms
- Severe allergic reactions
- Respiratory distress or breathing difficulties
- Loss of consciousness
Pilots assess each situation based on passenger condition, available medical facilities, and distance to suitable airports. The decision balances medical urgency against flight safety.
Official Response from EasyJet
An EasyJet spokesperson confirmed the diversion: “Flight EZY2238 from Copenhagen to Manchester on 27 October diverted to Newcastle, due to a customer onboard requiring urgent medical attention. The customer was met by medical services on arrival and the flight continued to Manchester. The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is always easyJet’s highest priority.”
North East Ambulance Service verified their response but provided no details about the patient’s condition or treatment.
The squawk 7700 emergency code broadcasts an aircraft’s distress situation to all air traffic control centers within range. Controllers immediately prioritize the flight, clearing traffic and coordinating with airport emergency services. The code applies to any general emergency, from medical situations to technical malfunctions.
Outcome
The swift coordination between the flight crew, UK air traffic control, and Newcastle emergency services allowed the passenger to receive hospital care within minutes of landing. The diversion added nearly two hours to what should have been a routine two-hour flight, but all passengers reached Manchester safely.
Medical emergencies remain unpredictable, but the EasyJet U2238 diversion to Newcastle demonstrated how aviation’s emergency response systems work when seconds matter. The passenger received immediate care, the flight continued, and 177 other travelers completed their journeys home.
