A TUI flight traveling from the UK to Cyprus had to change its course following an emergency triggered by a “bird strike.”
The aircraft, a Boeing 737 with flight number TOM 6754, was en route to Paphos in Cyprus when the incident occurred at 4:30 pm on Sunday during takeoff from Cardiff. Due to the emergency, the flight was redirected to Birmingham.
Operations at Birmingham Airport were momentarily halted while emergency services awaited the aircraft’s arrival. Flight tracking data revealed that the plane circled Swansea Bay at an altitude of around 3,000 feet before ascending to 12,000 feet and making its way to the West Midlands for landing.
Following a fuel-burning period during circling, passengers and crew safely disembarked after the plane landed at 5:30 pm. Upon touchdown, the aircraft was met by four fire vehicles and other emergency response units.
A TUI representative confirmed that the incident resulted from a bird strike near Cardiff Airport during takeoff, emphasizing that the diversion was a precautionary measure with no engine failure involved.
A Cardiff Airport spokesperson acknowledged the incident involving flight TOM6754 to Paphos, emphasizing passenger safety as the top priority. The aircraft successfully landed at Birmingham Airport around 5:30 pm.
The previous month, Birmingham Airport experienced flight disruptions for several hours due to an incident involving a light aircraft on the runway that led to one person sustaining injuries.
Several flights were rerouted from the airport on August 5 while others faced significant delays. The airport’s official Twitter account announced the runway closure at 2:48 pm, with security and check-in operations suspended two hours later.
Images from the scene depicted a white light aircraft surrounded by emergency vehicles on the runway. West Midlands Police reported minor injuries after a small aircraft executed an emergency landing at the airport.
The Mirror has reached out to TUI for a statement.
