![\"Split,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SEI_298309883-7b7f.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe Jet 2 flight was 30,000 ft in the air (Picture: Shutterstock \/ Markus Mainka)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tThe Jet 2 flight was 30,000 ft in the air (Picture: Shutterstock \/ Markus Mainka)<\/p>\n
A plane carrying British holidaymakers from Tenerife to Birmingham had to make an emergency landing after the pilot suffered a suspected heart attack mid-flight.<\/p>\n
The Jet2 Flight was 30,000 ft in the air when the medical emergency took place and the plane was forced to land early in Portugal<\/a> at 2.11am on Friday.<\/p>\n Witnesses said flight attendants ran down the aisle in tears, asking if there was a doctor on board.<\/p>\n A passenger told The Sun on Sunday: \u2018My partner and I were asleep when we were awoken by chaos.<\/p>\n \u2018Lights began flashing and hostesses who were visibly upset, seeking a doctor.<\/p>\n \u2018Our two-year-old began crying like many other children onboard because the aircraft was dropping so quickly for an emergency landing.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSign up for all of the latest stories\t\t\t<\/p>\n Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates<\/a><\/strong> newsletter or get Breaking News<\/a> <\/strong>alerts the moment it happens. <\/p>\n Emergency services rushed onto the plane after it landed in Porto, where 220 passengers watched on as medics attended to the pilot.<\/p>\n \t\t The passengers waited in Francisco Sa Carneiro airport for 13 hours before being flown home on a different flight with a new cockpit crew.<\/p>\n Jet2 had flown a pilot out from Manchester<\/a> to take customers back to the UK.<\/p>\n A passenger said: \u2018We were stranded in Portugal for over 13 hours without accommodation. They wouldn\u2019t let us off the plane itself for over an hour.<\/p>\n \u2018Then we were just left to wander around. There was nowhere to stay. They said accommodation was too expensive.\u2019<\/p>\n A passenger continued: \u2018The airline told us the pilot had suffered a heart attack in the cockpit. We have full sympathy for him of course.\u2019<\/p>\n Jet2<\/a> told The Sun: \u2018Flight LS1266 from Tenerife<\/a> to Birmingham<\/a> diverted to Porto on Thursday (21st May), due to one of the pilots feeling unwell.<\/p>\n \u2018At no point was safety compromised, and customers subsequently continued their journey.<\/p>\n \u2018We would like to apologise to customers for this unforeseen delay.\u2019<\/p>\n Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n For more stories like this, <\/strong>check our news page<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Porto,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SEI_298296681-d69a.jpg\")
\n\t\tPassengers were forced to wait in Porto Airport for a journey home (Picture: Shutterstock \/ martin SC photo)<\/p>\n
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