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Emirates Dubai-to-London flight diverts to Frankfurt after passenger suffers medical emergency on board

From the Newshound archive · first published 1 October 2026 · last updated 2 October 2026.

Pilots transmitted squawk code 7700 as Emirates flight EK31 diverted to Frankfurt, where a stricken passenger was disembarked for medical attention.
Pilots transmitted squawk code 7700 as Emirates flight EK31 diverted to Frankfurt, where a stricken passenger was disembarked for medical attention.

Emirates flight EK31, operating the Dubai–London Heathrow route, made an unplanned landing in Frankfurt on Thursday after a passenger became unwell approximately six hours into the flight. Cabin crew attended to the passenger throughout, and the Airbus A380 touched down safely in Germany, where the passenger was removed for further care. Emirates offered an apology for the disruption and said the aircraft would continue to Heathrow at around 6pm local Frankfurt time.

The aircraft transmitted emergency squawk code 7700 — the universal signal for a general in-flight emergency requiring immediate priority handling from air traffic control.

Emirates released no additional information regarding the passenger's illness or what prompted the medical emergency.

The incident occurred one day after a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted following an alleged attack in which a pilot stabbed his colleague and attempted to bring the plane down.

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