TENERIFE, Spain — A KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight bound for Amsterdam made an unscheduled diversion to the Canary Islands on Monday morning following a suspected mid-flight medical emergency.
KLM Flight KL706, operated by a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner (registration PH-BKC), departed Rio de Janeiro’s Galeão International Airport (GIG) at approximately 10:00 PM BRT on Sunday, July 19. The aircraft was roughly seven hours into its scheduled 11-hour transatlantic journey to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) when crew members initiated the diversion over the Atlantic Ocean.
The widebody aircraft safely touched down at Tenerife South Airport (TFS) at approximately 9:30 AM local time on July 20.
According to preliminary tracking data and our information, the diversion was prompted by a “possible medical situation” involving a passenger or crew member on board. Emergency medical teams met the aircraft on the tarmac in Tenerife to provide immediate assistance.
KLM has indicated that the disruption will be relatively brief. The airline is currently scheduling a tight, one-hour stopover in Tenerife to handle the medical situation, refuel, and prepare the cabin.
Flight KL706 is expected to resume its journey to Amsterdam shortly, with an anticipated delay of roughly two hours past its original arrival time at Schiphol. KLM has not released further details regarding the identity or condition of the individual involved.
