MANCHESTER, UK — A Turkish Airlines long-haul flight bound for Canada made an unscheduled diversion to Manchester Airport on Tuesday after the flight crew reported a technical issue while cruising over the North Sea.
Flight TK17 departed Istanbul Airport on schedule at 16:40 local time (TRT), heading for Toronto Pearson International Airport. The trip was being operated by a Boeing 777-300ER with registration TC-JJR.
Hold and Diversion
Roughly four hours into the transatlantic passage, while cruising at an altitude of 32,000 feet, the aircrew encountered a technical fault. To address the issue safely, pilots descended into a holding pattern over the North Sea at 26,000 feet while coordinating with air traffic control.
The crew subsequently requested a diversion to Manchester Airport (MAN) in the United Kingdom. Air traffic controllers vectored the aircraft toward the airport, where it landed safely on Runway 23L at 19:30 local time.
Onward Journey to Toronto
Engineers conducted a thorough inspection of the widebody aircraft on the tarmac at Manchester. Following technical clearance and refueling, Flight TK17 received permission to resume its journey.
The aircraft pushed back approximately three hours after landing, taking off for the final seven-hour leg across the Atlantic toward Toronto.
