SAS Flight to Dublin Declares Emergency Mid-Air for Medical Priority
DUBLIN – A Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) flight arriving from Copenhagen was forced to declare an aerial emergency over the United Kingdom on Wednesday afternoon following a medical crisis on board.
Flight SK537, operated by an Airbus A320neo (registration EI-SIF), departed Copenhagen Airport (CPH) on schedule at 10:45 CET. The flight was nearing the end of its two-hour journey to the Irish capital, cruising at an altitude of 38,000 feet, when the crew alerted air traffic control to a developing situation.
Priority Landing Sequence
At 12:36 CET, while initiating its descent into Irish airspace, the flight crew “squawked” 7700, the international radio code for a general emergency. Reports indicate the call was made to secure a priority approach into Dublin Airport (DUB) due to a passenger requiring immediate medical attention.
Air traffic controllers cleared a direct path for the aircraft, allowing it to bypass standard arrival patterns. The timeline of the landing was as follows:
- 12:36 CET: Emergency declared (Squawk 7700).
- 12:56 CET: Successful touchdown on Runway 28L.
- 13:01 CET: Aircraft arrived at Gate 106 for medical intervention.
Ground Response
Emergency medical services were reportedly on standby at the terminal to meet the aircraft upon arrival. The identity of the passenger and the specific nature of the medical emergency have not been disclosed by the airline.
SAS has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the condition of the individual involved, though the aircraft taxied to the gate under its own power without further incident.
