GANDER, NL — An Etihad Airways Airbus A380 flying from Canada to the United Arab Emirates was forced to make an unscheduled diversion to Gander International Airport on Friday due to an onboard medical emergency.
Flight EY22 departed Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) on Friday, July 10, 2026, at 1:55 PM EDT, bound for Abu Dhabi. The double-decker superjumbo, registered as A6-APD, climbed to a cruising altitude of 33,000 feet and proceeded normally along its transatlantic flight path for nearly three hours.
Mid-Air U-Turn Over the Atlantic
As the aircraft neared the edge of the North American continent, the flight crew responded to a medical situation developing in the cabin. Seeking immediate medical care for the affected passenger, the pilots executed a sharp 270-degree turn to head toward Gander, Newfoundland (YQX), a well-known transatlantic diversion point.
The aircraft landed safely at Gander International Airport after spending roughly four hours in the air.
Brief Ground Stop Before Departure
Local emergency medical personnel met the massive airliner on the tarmac to transport the passenger to a regional hospital.
The Gander airport, famously capable of handling the world’s largest aircraft due to its historical role as a refueling hub, serviced the superjumbo during its brief stay. After approximately two hours on the ground, Flight EY22 refueled and departed Gander to resume its journey to Abu Dhabi.
