A bird strike caused the aircraft to diver to the West Midlands airport shortly after take-off

22:15, 28 Sep 2025Updated 22:21, 28 Sep 2025

A TUI aircraft from Cardiff was diverted to Birmingham (stock image)

A flight departing from Cardiff Airport was forced to make an emergency diversion to Birmingham. the flight. The TUI flight was heading to Paphos, Cyprus and expecting to land at 10.45pm, but shortly after take off the flight diverted to Birmingham Airport landing at around 5.30pm on Sunday, September 28.

Airport fire service vehicles met the Boeing 737, flight number TOM 6754, on the runway after arriving at Birmingham Airport. Residents in Swansea reported seeing and hearing the aircraft as it circled the city before continuing its course, circling again near Birmingham before landing this evening.

Operations were suspended at Birmingham Airport while emergency services met the aircraft upon its arrival. Flight maps show the plane circled Swansea Bay at approximately 3,000ft before climbing up to 12,000ft and heading towards the West Midlands to land., reported MirrorOnline.

Passengers and crew were safely disembarked after the aircraft burned fuel circling before landing at 5.30pm. The plane was met on the runway by four fire appliances and other emergency vehicles.

TUI confirmed that the diversion did not involve an engine fault however there was a bird strike after take-off from Cardiff Airport. A TUI spokesperson confirmed the incident was not caused by engine failure. The diversion was carried out as a precaution.

A spokesperson for Cardiff Airport said: “We are aware of an incident involving flight TOM6754 from Cardiff to Paphos on 28/09/25.

“The safety of our passengers is our number one priority. The aircraft diverted to Birmingham Airport (BHX) and landed safely at approximately 17:30.”

A Birmingham Airport spokesperson said: “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.”

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