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Medical Crisis Forces EasyJet U22152 to Make Unscheduled Landing in Germany

Flight Details: Istanbul to Manchester

EasyJet flight U22152 is a scheduled evening service operated by the British low-cost carrier between Istanbul Airport (IST) and Manchester Airport (MAN). On 15 August 2025 the flight was operated by an Airbus A320-214 registered G-EZWT, a 9-year-old aircraft with 180 economy-class seats. The service normally departs Istanbul at 13:55 local time (10:55 UTC) and arrives in Manchester at 16:10 BST (15:10 UTC) after a flight time of approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes. On the day of the incident the aircraft pushed back on time and took off from runway 35L at Istanbul without any reported technical issues.

What Happened Mid-Flight

Approximately two hours into the cruise, while the aircraft was overflying southern Poland at flight level 360 (36 000 ft), the situation on board changed dramatically. Passengers reported that the seat-belt signs, which had been switched off after reaching cruising altitude, were suddenly illuminated again. Shortly afterwards, several cabin crew members were seen rushing toward the rear galley with medical equipment and an on-board defibrillator.

Crew Member Falls Ill

The medical emergency involved a senior cabin crew member in her mid-40s who suddenly collapsed while performing service in the rear of the aircraft. Fellow crew members and two off-duty doctors who happened to be travelling as passengers immediately began providing first aid. The affected crew member was conscious but described as “very pale, sweating heavily and complaining of severe chest pain”. The medical professionals on board suspected a possible cardiac event and recommended an immediate diversion to the nearest suitable airport.

Captain Declares Emergency

At 14:28 UTC the captain contacted Shanwick Oceanic and subsequently Eurocontrol to declare a MAYDAY due to a “serious medical emergency requiring immediate landing”. The flight was handed over to Warsaw, Bratislava and finally Munich Air Traffic Control as the aircraft began a rapid descent. The crew requested priority handling and medical services on arrival. The MAYDAY call automatically triggered full emergency response protocols across several European air navigation service providers.

Diversion to Cologne Bonn Airport

After evaluating remaining fuel, runway length, medical facilities and weather conditions, the crew selected Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany) as the most suitable diversion airport. Cologne offers a 3 815-metre runway, 24-hour operations, and is home to a major university hospital only 15 minutes from the terminal. At the time of the emergency, weather in Cologne was excellent with light winds and unlimited visibility, making it an ideal choice.

Safe Landing at 16:42 Local Time

Flight U22152 touched down safely on runway 14L at Cologne Bonn Airport at 16:42 CEST (14:42 UTC), approximately 2 hours and 47 minutes after departure from Istanbul. Fire and rescue vehicles followed the aircraft to stand E04 where it was parked remotely to allow rapid access for the ambulance. The Airbus A320 taxied under its own power and all engines were shut down normally, confirming there was no technical problem with the aircraft itself.

Medical Team Boards Aircraft

Within four minutes of the aircraft coming to a complete stop, a team from the Cologne Fire Department and two emergency physicians boarded via mobile stairs at door L2. The affected crew member, who had been moved to the forward galley for easier access, was stabilised on board for approximately 12 minutes before being transferred on a stretcher to a waiting intensive-care ambulance. She was transported under blue lights to the University Hospital of Cologne for further treatment.

Passenger Reaction On Board

Passengers described the atmosphere during the diversion as “tense but remarkably calm”. The captain kept travellers informed with several announcements explaining the medical situation and the need to divert. Many praised the professionalism of the remaining crew, who continued to serve water and reassure passengers despite the obvious stress of the situation. Several travellers posted real-time updates on social media, with the hashtag #U22152 trending briefly in the UK and Germany.

EasyJet Official Statement

EasyJet released an official statement approximately 90 minutes after landing:

“EasyJet can confirm that flight U22152 from Istanbul to Manchester on 15 August diverted to Cologne as a precaution due to a cabin crew member requiring urgent medical attention. The aircraft landed normally and the crew member was met by medical services. The safety and welfare of our passengers and crew is always EasyJet’s highest priority. We would like to thank passengers for their understanding and our crew for their professionalism.”

A follow-up update on 16 August confirmed that the crew member was in a stable condition and receiving treatment in hospital.

Flight Resumed Hours Later

After refuelling, a crew change, and routine engineering checks, the original aircraft G-EZWT departed Cologne Bonn Airport at 20:17 local time as flight EJU9001 (a non-commercial positioning flight number) and continued to Manchester. The 156 passengers on board were provided with refreshments and meal vouchers during the roughly 3.5-hour wait on the ground. The flight eventually landed at Manchester Airport Terminal 1 at 20:45 BST, almost five hours behind schedule.

No Injuries to Passengers Reported

Importantly, none of the 156 passengers or the remaining crew members sustained any injuries during the emergency descent or landing. EasyJet automatically offered EU261 compensation for the significant delay, as well as hotel accommodation to those with onward connections affected by the late arrival. The airline also arranged complimentary rebooking for any passengers who missed connecting flights.

Why Cologne Was the Best Choice

Aviation experts later confirmed that Cologne was the optimal diversion airport for several reasons: proximity (only 35 minutes additional flying time from the point of the emergency), long runway capable of accepting a fully loaded A320 without fuel dumping, Category 9 fire cover, and direct road access to one of Germany’s leading heart centres. Alternative airports such as Frankfurt or Düsseldorf would have added significant taxi time on the ground.

Crew Training and Medical Equipment On Board

The incident highlighted the effectiveness of EasyJet’s crew training programmes. All EasyJet cabin crew receive annual first-aid and CPR refresher training, and aircraft are equipped with enhanced medical kits, automatic external defibrillators (AEDs), and oxygen bottles. The presence of two doctors among the passengers further improved the outcome, demonstrating the value of passenger medical volunteers in such situations.

Impact on EasyJet Operations

The diversion had minimal knock-on effects for EasyJet’s network. The aircraft was able to return to service the following morning, and replacement crew members were already based in Manchester. EasyJet operates more than 1 000 flights per day during peak summer, so the loss of one rotation was quickly absorbed.

Passenger Compensation and Rights

Under EU/UK regulation 261/2004, all passengers on U22152 were entitled to fixed compensation of €400 each because the delay to their final destination exceeded four hours and the disruption was within the airline’s control (medical diversions are not considered “extraordinary circumstances”). EasyJet proactively contacted affected travellers and processed claims automatically in most cases.

Importance of In-Flight Medical Diversions

Medical emergencies occur on approximately 1 in every 600 commercial flights worldwide. The majority involve passengers rather than crew, but crew incidents are taken extremely seriously because they can affect the ability to operate the aircraft safely. Diversions for medical reasons have an outstanding safety record, with virtually zero accidents directly linked to the diversion itself.

Final Outcome and Recovery

By 18 August 2025 EasyJet confirmed that the affected crew member had been discharged from hospital and was recovering well at home. The airline arranged for her repatriation to the UK and offered full support during her recovery period. The incident was reported to the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) as a serious incident, though no formal investigation was opened given the successful outcome and absence of aircraft technical issues.

This event.

The swift actions of the flight deck, cabin crew, air traffic control, airport emergency services and volunteer medical professionals ensured that what could have been a far more serious situation ended with the best possible result – a safe landing and successful medical treatment for the crew member involved.