Flight diverts to Shannon with medical emergency

By Patrick Flynn

A transatlantic jet diverted to Shannon last night after a passenger fell ill.

KLM flight 255 was travelling from Amsterdam to Atlanta in the US at the time.

The flight was over the Atlantic about 90 minutes west of Ireland when the crew declared a medical emergency and turned around.

Airport emergency services were standing by for the Boeing 777 jet when it landed at 7.45pm.

Paramedics quickly boarded the jet once it reached the terminal building and the passenger was removed to University Hospital Limerick for treatment.

The flight continued its journey at 9.00pm.

Shannon Airport dealt with 27 medical emergencies in 2015 up from 22 the previous year.

There have been four medical diversions to the mid west airport so far this year.