LIVERPOOL — A Jet2 flight bound for Spain was forced to make a sudden U-turn and return to Liverpool John Lennon Airport on Thursday morning after declaring a mid-air emergency shortly after departure.
Flight LS3251, operated by a Boeing 737-800 registered as G-JZHX, had taken off from Liverpool (LPL) on schedule at 8:00 AM BST, set for Palma de Mallorca.
However, flight tracking data indicates that just 11 minutes into the flight, the aircraft abruptly halted its ascent at 15,000 feet. The flight crew transmitted a squawk code 7700—the international signal used to communicate a general emergency to air traffic control—before initiating an immediate turn back toward Liverpool.
The specific nature of the technical that prompted the alert has not yet been formally confirmed by the airline or airport officials.
UPDATE
We have information the the Boeing 737-800 suffered a birdstrike on takeoff.Flight tracking shows the aircraft descending back toward Liverpool John Lennon Airport, where emergency services typically assemble on the tarmac as a standard precautionary measure for full-procedure emergency landings.
Yesterday, the same flight operated by another aircraft departed Liverpool with more than 3 hours delay.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated as further details are released by Jet2 and airport authorities.
UPDATE 08:32 BST
The flight is now holding at North of Liverpool, still at 14,000 feet.
UPDATE 08:36 BST
We have information the flight will divert to Manchester Airport.
UPDATE 08:42 BST
The flight is expected to land by 09:05.
UDPATE 08:52 BST
Starting final approach to MAN.
UPDATE 09:01 BST
Touch down on runway 23L.
The aircraft is met by 3 fire trucks.
UPDATE 09:02 BST
The airline is confirming that flight LS3251 Liverpool to Majorca (Palma) has diverted to Manchester due to unforeseen operational reasons.
UPDATE 09:03 BST
The aircraft is being inspected.
UPDATE 09:08 BST
The aircraft is now taxiing to the terminal.
UPDATE 09:40 BST
New departure scheduled at 11:50 from MAN.
UPDATE 10:02 BST
G – JZDD is coming up from Stanstead to get the passenger to Majorca.
