A Jet2 flight en route from Tenerife to Manchester was forced to divert to Cork, Ireland, after a passenger was found deceased in the aircraft’s lavatory.
The incident occurred on Tuesday when fellow passengers raised concerns about the toilet being locked for an extended period. Upon investigation by the crew, the tragic discovery was made, prompting the diversion to Cork.
A passenger on board recounted the incident to the Mirror, stating, “My husband reported someone had been in [the] toilet a long time and he thought he was dead. Tragically he was right. He informed the crew who were dismissive towards him.” This account reflects the distress and disruption experienced by those on the flight.
Flight Diverted to Cork
Due to the unforeseen event, the flight’s arrival in Manchester was significantly delayed, landing approximately five hours later than its scheduled time of 8.30 pm. The diversion and subsequent procedures resulted in the passengers reaching Manchester around 1.30 am.
Jet2 Commends Crew's Response, Offers Condolences to Deceased's Family
In a statement to The Independent, a spokesperson for Jet2 addressed the incident: “Flight LS918 from Tenerife to Manchester diverted to Cork Airport on Tuesday 2nd January, due to a customer requiring medical attention. Regrettably, we can confirm that the customer sadly passed away, despite the best efforts of our highly-trained crew who intervened as soon as they became aware. This was an extremely difficult situation for our crew and we would like to thank them for their efforts. Our thoughts are with the customer’s family and friends at this very difficult time.”
The airline extended its condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and acknowledged the challenging circumstances faced by the flight crew during the incident.