N811NW, PH-KCF in medical diversions

Today's Northwest Airlines flight NWA 811 operating from London Gatwick to Atlanta diverted to Shannon when a male passenger fell ill. The aircraft was west of Ireland when the aircraft turned back and landed on Shannon's R06 at 10.32 utc. Unfortunately the passenger was pronounced dead on arrival at the airport, having suffered a suspected heart attack. The body was taken to the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick. The flight departed Shannon again at 12:42 utc.

N811NW was a recent visitor to Shannon prior to today's diversion. The aircraft performed a technical diversion on June 12 when smoke was noted in the cabin by a crew member.

At the same time as the Northwest Airlines flight was diverting to Shannon, flight KLM 758, routing from Panama City to Amsterdam was forced to divert to Cork, also with a medical emergency. The flight operated by MD11, registration PH-KCF landed a few moments after the NWA flight landed in Shannon. The passenger on the KLM flight who had also suffered a suspected heart attack was taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital. Flight KLM 758 departed Cork again at 11.35 utc. Shannon is the preferred diversion airport for technical and medical emergencies but since Shannon was tied up with the NWA flight the KLM flight was directed to Cork.

Pictured above in the copyright picture by Paul Daly, PH-KCF is seen on departure from Cork at 11.35 utc

N811NW diverts to Shannon

Today's Northwest Airlines flight NWA 821 operating between Rome Fiumicino and Atlanta diverted into Shannon at lunchtime today after a crew member noted smoke in the passenger cabin. The flight operated by Airbus A330-323X, msn 0690, and registered N811NW was off the southwest coast when it declared emergency and diverted to Shannon, landing on R06 at 12.25 utc. The aircraft with 285 passengers and crew was followed down the runway by the Shannon Airport Fire and Rescue Service. The crew reported high temperature readings from the number 6 brake which was reading in excess of 600 degrees and smoking several minutes after parking on stand. The aircraft was eventually given the all clear and departed Shannon for Atlanta at 17.00 utc. Pictured above, N811NW is seen departing R06 at Taxiway Charlie.