A Ryanair flight bound for Malta declared an in-flight emergency shortly after taking off from Norwich Airport this morning.
Flight FR5883, operated by a Malta Air-registered Boeing 737 MAX 8 (registration 9H-VUV), departed Norwich Airport (NWI) from runway 27 at approximately 08:30 BST.The aircraft was scheduled for a non-stop journey to Malta International Airport in Luqa (MLA).
However, during the initial departure phase, the crew halted the aircraft’s climb at 7,000 feet after encountering a bird strike on takeoff (AIRLIVE’s source). Ground radar tracking showed the jet entering a holding pattern near the airport shortly after takeoff.
Roughly 30 minutes into the flight, the flight crew transmitted squawk code 7700 (the international aviation transponder code indicating a general emergency) to alert air traffic controllers of the situation.
The aircraft remains at 7,000 feet, burning off fuel while the crew works through onboard safety checklists. Air traffic control is currently coordinating priority handling for the flight.
This is a breaking aviation story; updates will follow as more details emerge.
UPDATE 09:08 BST
The flight is diverting.
UPDATE 09:14 BST
Heading to West.
UPDATE 09:09 BST
The flight is holding 6,000 feet, heading to Nottingham East Midlands Airport.
UDPATE 09:58 BST
Touch down on runway 27 at EMA.
UPDATE 09:59 BST
The aircraft vacated the runway.
UPDATE 10:28 BST
We have information Ryanair #FR5883 suffered a severe birdstrike on takeoff from Norwich badly damaging an engine.
