TUI travelers returning to the UK were rerouted back to Spain due to an in-flight emergency. The unexpected return of the Boeing 737 was facilitated by Spanish air traffic controllers in Tenerife, as the aircraft was en route to Glasgow. The incident occurred following a similar event involving an easyJet flight from Glasgow to Jersey, which had to turn back due to turbulence causing a crew member to require medical assistance.
The specific flight involved in yesterday’s incident was identified as TUI flight BY1173, which landed in Tenerife South around 5 pm local time, approximately an hour after takeoff. The flight eventually reached Glasgow over two hours later at around 10:40 pm. Spanish air traffic controllers shared online that the return was necessary to attend to a passenger with medical issues, coordinating with airport medical services for assistance.
The nationality and exact condition of the passenger requiring medical attention remain undisclosed. In a separate incident in December, a Ryanair flight from the Canary Islands to Bristol had to divert to Lanzarote due to malfunctioning toilets, causing a delay in the passengers’ journey.
Both airlines involved, TUI and easyJet, prioritized the safety and well-being of passengers and crew during the emergencies. TUI has been contacted for comment on the recent incident.