Ryanair flight from Riga to Dublin lands in Newcastle after emergency

The budget carrier was flying passengers from Latvia to Dublin when it declared an emergency while over the UK.

The Ryanair flight, codenamed FR5115, then diverted to Newcastle where it was met by waiting ambulance crews and a passenger taken to hospital for further treatment.

Read more: New airline launches flights to popular holiday destination from Newcastle Airport

The plane, a Boeing 737, took off from the Latvian capital of Riga shortly after 12pm UK time on Sunday afternoon, but as it was nearing Hull took a detour up the North East coast towards Newcastle.

It then safely landed at Newcastle Airport just before 2.30pm and was greeted by medical staff on arrival.

The Ryanair flight made a turn up the North East coast after the medical emergency on board. (Image: FLIGHTRADAR24)

The passenger, who had fallen ill during the flight, was disembarked from the aircraft and taken to the RVI by paramedics for treatment.

The flight then took off just after 3.10pm to continue its journey to Dublin.

A spokesperson for Ryanair told The Northern Echo: ““This flight from Riga to Dublin (04 Dec) diverted to Newcastle due to a medical emergency on board.

To get more stories direct to your email basket go here 

“The aircraft landed normally and the passenger was met by medical personnel before being transported to hospital for further treatment.”

Meanwhile a North East Ambulance Service spokesperson added: “We received a call at 14:13 on Sunday 4 December to respond to a person unwell, travelling onboard a flight travelling inbound to Newcastle Airport.

“We sent one emergency ambulance crew and took one male patient to the Royal Victoria Hospital for further treatment."

It comes less than a week after an Emirates flight from Dubai to Newcastle declared a medical emergency shortly before arrival.

The Emirates flight on November 28 was also met by paramedics on arrival into the North East’s busiest airport and a passenger taken to Newcastle’s RVI for further treatment.

Read next:

• STACK announces plans for another pop-up in North East - here's where
• Police praise bravery of woman who wakes to find man trying to rape her in home
• Man, 61, who died after he was found on North East street is named by police

If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here