Tuesday, August 20, 2024 A Qantas flight en route from London to Singapore was forced to make an emergency landing in Istanbul, Turkey, earlier today due to a medical emergency on board. The Airbus A380, operating as flight QFA2, diverted to Istanbul after a passenger became unwell during the journey. The unexpected landing left hundreds of passengers temporarily stranded as the airline worked to address the situation and ensure the safety and well-being of all involved.
The flight had departed from London and was originally scheduled to stop over in Singapore before continuing to its final destination. However, approximately midway through the flight, a medical emergency prompted the crew to take immediate action. Qantas confirmed that the decision to divert the flight was made in consultation with medical experts who advised that the passenger required urgent medical attention.
In a text message sent to passengers, Qantas explained the situation and apologized for the disruption. “We apologize for the disruption to your flight, but our diversion to Istanbul was needed to provide essential medical care for a passenger who became unwell during the flight. We are working to get you on your way as soon as we can, but given Istanbul is an airport we do not usually operate to, that will take a little time,” the message read.
Passengers were informed that they would remain onboard the aircraft while it was on the ground in Istanbul, in order to expedite the process of continuing the journey once clearance was obtained. The airline assured travelers that it was monitoring any connecting flights and would communicate any necessary changes to their onward travel plans. The Airbus A380 was on the ground at Istanbul Airport for approximately two and a half hours before it resumed its journey to Singapore.
During this time, the passenger in need of medical assistance was treated by the onboard staff, who provided first aid until the plane could land and the passenger could receive further care. One passenger recounted the experience to News.com.
au, noting that they were initially unaware of the details of the emergency. “They turned the lights back on after two minutes of being off, and the flight estimate time changed on the screens from 11 hours to 44 minutes,” the passenger said. The pilot later addressed the passengers, emphasizing the importance of the diversion, saying, “Imagine if this was you, you’d want us to do this for you in this situation.
” The flight has since departed Istanbul and is expected to land in Singapore later today. Qantas continues to monitor the situation and has expressed gratitude to the passengers for their understanding and patience during the unexpected diversion..
