Two jets in emergency landings at Shannon

Two holiday jets — operated by the same airline — were forced to make emergency landings at Shannon Airport yesterday after passengers fell ill.

The first diversion involved Thomson flight TOM-173 which was en route from Cancun, Mexico, to Manchester. The Boeing 787-800 Dreamliner was over the Atlantic about 500km west of Shannon when the pilot requested permission to divert.

The pilot also sought priority landing and high- speed approach. The flight touched down at 6.25am and taxied directly to the terminal where an ambulance and doctor were waiting.