The TUI flight from Cardiff to Cyprus was forced to declare a mid-air emergency
(Image: Air Nav)
Passengers on a TUI flight from the UK to Cyprus experienced a fright when an emergency was declared mid-flight.
The Boeing 737, flight number TOM 6754, was en route to Paphos in Cyprus when the incident happened at 4.30pm on Sunday, shortly after takeoff from Cardiff.
The plane had to be rerouted to Birmingham, causing operations at Birmingham Airport to be temporarily halted as emergency services prepared for its arrival.
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Flight maps reveal that the aircraft circled Swansea Bay at roughly 3,000ft before ascending to 12,000ft and heading towards the West Midlands for landing.
Passengers and crew were safely evacuated after the aircraft circled before landing at 5.30pm.
The plane was greeted on the runway by four fire engines and other emergency vehicles, causing minor delays at Birmingham before it could taxi to a stand.
A spokesperson for TUI reportedly stated: “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.”, reports the Mirror.
Meanwhile, a representative for Cardiff Airport said: “We are aware of an incident involving flight TOM6754 from Cardiff to Paphos.
“The safety of our passengers is our number one priority. The aircraft diverted to Birmingham Airport (BHX) and landed safely at approximately 17:30.”