A Cyprus-bound TUI Airways jet carrying holidaymakers from Cardiff made an emergency landing at Birmingham Airport on Sunday after a bird strike during takeoff left passengers fearing the worst. The captain told those aboard that the plane had suffered an engine failure, but the airline later insisted no such failure occurred.
Flight BY6754 landed safely at 5:29 PM, with all passengers and crew walking away unharmed. The incident has raised questions about the communication gap between what passengers experienced and the official explanation that followed.
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Timeline of the Emergency
The Boeing 737-800, registered as G-TAWY, departed Cardiff Airport at 4:18 PM bound for Paphos, Cyprus. Within minutes of takeoff, the aircraft suffered a bird strike that forced the pilots to abandon their climb.
The crew immediately circled west of Cardiff Airport and over Swansea Bay at roughly 3,000 feet. At this point, passengers noticed something had gone wrong but received no explanation from the flight deck.
The pilots then declared an emergency, transmitting the 7700 squawk code to alert air traffic control. The aircraft climbed to 12,000 feet and headed northeast toward Birmingham, eventually descending to hold at 7,000 feet while emergency crews prepared on the ground.
Birmingham Airport cleared the jet for landing at 5:26 PM. Three minutes later, the Boeing 737 touched down on runway 33 and taxied to the terminal by 5:40 PM.
Inside the Aircraft: Passengers Describe Fear and Confusion
Dave Preece, 56, from Tycroes, Carmarthenshire, was among those aboard the diverted flight. He told the BBC that passengers felt a vibration and heard a rumble coming from the left side of the aircraft shortly after leaving Cardiff.
“There was a feeling something had gone wrong but no explanation given so for a lot of people that was the most scary part,” Preece said.
A burning smell filled the cabin. Passengers sat in tense silence, exchanging worried looks as the plane circled over Swansea Bay. Through the windows, they spotted the Tata Steel facility below, which only added to their confusion about where the aircraft was heading.
The captain eventually broke the silence with an announcement that shocked those aboard: the plane had experienced engine failure and would divert to Birmingham.
“There was silence, people looking at each other and thinking ‘what is going on here.’ When the captain later said there had been engine failure, people were in shock,” Preece recalled.
Emergency Response on the Ground
Birmingham Airport suspended normal operations to accommodate the incoming TUI flight. Four fire appliances and multiple emergency vehicles positioned themselves along the runway, ready to respond if needed.
The aircraft burned fuel in a series of orbits before landing, reducing its weight for a safer touchdown. Fire crews met the jet as it rolled to a stop on runway 33.
“Birmingham Airport accepted an inbound TUI divert. In line with normal procedures the airport’s Fire Service met the aircraft on arrival. The aircraft landed safely and taxied to the apron,” a Birmingham Airport spokesman confirmed.
Passengers disembarked without incident once the plane reached its gate.
What Really Happened: TUI Contradicts Captain’s Announcement
Hours after the emergency landing, TUI Airways released a statement that directly contradicted what the captain had told passengers.
“To confirm, there was no engine failure. There was a bird strike after take-off and the diversion that followed was a precautionary routine procedure,” a TUI spokesperson said.
The statement left many questioning why passengers were told about an engine failure when, according to the airline, the incident involved only a bird strike requiring precautionary action.
Cardiff Airport acknowledged the incident in a brief statement: “We are aware of an incident involving flight TOM6754 from Cardiff to Paphos. The safety of our passengers is our number one priority.”
Bird strikes occur frequently in aviation, particularly during takeoff and landing when aircraft operate at lower altitudes. Most cause minimal damage, but strikes involving engine ingestion can force emergency diversions.
The same Boeing 737-800 had operated a flight from Lanzarote to Cardiff earlier that day before attempting the Cyprus route.
Safe Landing, Lingering Questions
The emergency landing of TUI flight BY6754 ended without injuries, but the disconnect between the captain’s in-flight announcement and the airline’s official explanation continues to fuel passenger concerns. While TUI maintains the diversion was merely precautionary following a bird strike, those aboard heard a very different story at 12,000 feet over the West Midlands.
