SHANNON, Ireland — An transatlantic flight operated by Austrian Airlines has resumed its journey to New York City following an unscheduled diversion to Shannon Airport in Ireland on Friday evening.
Flight OS35, operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner registered as OE-LPM, originally departed Vienna Airport (VIE) at 5:00 PM CEST bound for John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). After reaching a cruising altitude of 34,000 feet over Germany, the widebody jet continued across Western Europe and out over the Atlantic Ocean, climbing to 36,000 feet.
Approximately three hours and 30 minutes into the flight, while positioned over the North Atlantic, the flight crew made the decision to execute a U-turn and divert toward Ireland.
Quick Turnaround Points to Minor Incident
After spending nearly five hours in the air, the aircraft landed safely at Shannon Airport at 9:05 PM local time.
Although Austrian Airlines has not officially confirmed the specific reason for the diversion, the airline scheduled a target re-departure as early as 9:30 PM local time. The rapid turnaround schedule strongly indicates a medical emergency or a minor incident on board, requiring immediate attention on the ground rather than a mechanical failure or security issue.
Onward Journey to JFK
Following a brief stop on the tarmac for refuelling and necessary ground procedures, the Dreamliner took off from Shannon at 10:21 PM local time. Flight OS35 is expected to arrive at New York’s JFK Airport shortly before midnight local time, incurring a few-hour delay for passengers bound for the U.S.
