A US-bound Aer Lingus Airbus A330-200 jet was forced to return to Dublin airport yesterday after declaring an emergency.
Aer Lingus flight EI-121 from Dublin to Orlando in Florida was about 30 minutes into its Atlantic crossing when the captain declared a “pan-pan” and sought permission to return to Dublin. The exact nature of the emergency is unknown, although it is thought to have been technical. A “pan-pan” is not as serious as a “may-day” distress call.
The flight had departed Dublin at 12.13pm. But soon after reaching its cruising altitude of 37,000ft the captain reported the problem.