An Air Canada flight bound for Canada was forced to make an abrupt U-turn and declare a mid-air emergency shortly after taking off from Scotland this morning.
EDINBURGH — Air Canada flight AC937, operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (registration C-FRTU), departed Edinburgh Airport (EDI) at 09:40 BST on its scheduled trans-Atlantic service to Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL).
According to flight tracking data, the aircraft was nearing the final stages of its initial climb and reaching an altitude of approximately 38,000 feet when the crew suddenly halted the ascent. The pilots initiated a sharp turn back toward the east and immediately triggered a squawk code 7700, the international signal for a general airborne emergency.
In tandem with the emergency declaration, the widebody jet executed a rapid descent, dropping to 10,000 feet. Aviation protocols dictate descending to 10,000 feet during a potential loss of cabin pressure, as the air at that altitude is dense enough for passengers and crew to breathe normally without supplementary oxygen.
Air Canada officials confirmed they are actively monitoring the situation and expect to release an official update regarding the aircraft’s status and passenger accommodations within the next 30 minutes.
Emergency response services at Edinburgh Airport are reportedly on standby to meet the aircraft upon its arrival as a standard precautionary measure. It is currently unclear how many passengers and crew members are on board, and no injuries have been reported at this stage.
This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information from Air Canada and Edinburgh Airport authorities becomes available.
