A US-BOUND aircraft was forced to divert to Dublin Airport yesterday after a passenger on board fell ill about an hour into the flight.
American Airlines flight AA173 was en route from London Heathrow Airport to Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina when a woman passenger complained of feeling unwell.
Shortly after midday the crew alerted air traffic controllers at Shannon Airport to a medical emergency on board. The flight was just north of Waterford city and the crew sought permission to divert to Dublin.
The Boeing 767-300 touched down safely at 12.25pm and taxied to the terminal building, where paramedics were standing by. The woman was assessed and stabilised at the scene before being removed to hospital.
There were 200 passengers on board and a crew of 12, including three pilots. The aircraft took off from Dublin at 2.40pm.
American Airlines said: “The flight did divert to Dublin due to a passenger medical issue.”