Tenerife-bound easyjet flight forced to divert to Gatwick Airport after ‘welfare issue’ | UK | News

An easyJet flight departing from England and heading to a popular holiday destination had to return to London due to a “welfare issue”. Flight EZY3201 departed Edinburgh Airport at 15.35 on Wednesday 22 March for Tenerife South Airport.

The Airbus A320 was scheduled to land at Canary Islands Airport around 8.05pm but had to return to Gatwick Airport following the incident. Data from flight tracking app FlightRadar24 shows the plane heading southwest over Brittany in northwestern France at an altitude of approximately 35,000ft. It then made a sudden turn and headed north-east towards Gatwick Airport, where it landed safely shortly after 5.30pm.

The budget carrier said the flight was diverted due to a “welfare issue” but no further details were released by easyJet.

Despite the problem, it appears that the flight crew did not transmit the code squawk 7700, the international code for general emergency.

Squawk 7700 is a universal aviation transponder code designated by pilots to indicate a general emergency to Air Traffic Control. It provides immediate distress signals on radar screens, allowing priority intervention, emergency service preparation and airspace clearance.

It can be used for a variety of concerns, including:

Informing passengers online, easyJet said: “We are very sorry that your flight has been diverted. This is due to a welfare issue. The disruption to your flight is beyond our control and is treated as an extraordinary situation.”

“We plan to refuel and continue your flight as soon as possible. Your crew will keep you updated.”

Following the diversion, the aircraft is expected to leave London around 21.45pm and continue towards Tenerife, arriving there around 2.30pm.