A passenger died aboard an EasyJet flight from Nantes to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands on Tuesday.
A tragic incident occurred during the approach phase of EasyJet Flight U24775. The passenger’s death prompted the flight crew to issue a distress signal.
Emergency Response and Landing
After 3 hours in the air from Nantes, France, the Airbus A320 (registration OE-IZG) landed normally on runway 03 at Lanzarote.
At this stage, the exact cause of the passenger’s death remains unknown. No further details about the individual or the circumstances leading to their passing have been released by authorities or the airline.
Airline Statement
An EasyJet spokesperson addressed the tragedy in an official statement: “Unfortunately, a passenger died aboard flight U24775 from Nantes to Lanzarote on September 16. Our crew members are trained to respond to medical issues and did everything possible during the flight. Our thoughts are with the passenger’s family and friends, and we extend all our support and assistance to them during this difficult time. The welfare and safety of our passengers and crew are always EasyJet’s absolute priority.”
Significant Delays to Return Flight
The medical emergency had cascading effects on EasyJet’s operations, causing substantial delays to the return flight from Lanzarote back to Nantes. The aircraft, originally scheduled to land in Nantes at 2:45 PM, was ultimately unable to touch down until just after 11:00 PM – a delay of more than eight hours.
Aviation Medical Emergency Protocols
In-flight medical emergencies, while relatively rare, represent some of the most challenging situations faced by commercial aviation crews. Flight attendants receive extensive medical training as part of their certification, and many aircraft carry automated external defibrillators and comprehensive medical kits.
When a serious medical emergency occurs, pilots often declare a mayday or pan-pan emergency, which gives them priority handling from air traffic control and ensures medical personnel are standing by upon landing. The decision to continue to the planned destination versus diverting to a closer airport depends on multiple factors, including the nature of the emergency, available medical facilities, and flight time remaining.
