20 December 2023 , 14:49
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Another Ryanair flight has been forced to make an emergency landing in Portugal, the fourth incident to hit the firm inside a fortnight.
The budget airline's Boeing 737 - which was carrying 202 passengers - is said to have landed in Faro after a ‘red code’ alert was triggered at Algarve airport. Local media reports say the plane, which was bound for Lisbon, had to divert. It begun experiencing ‘technical problems’, it has been claimed. Mirror Online have approach Ryanair for confirmation.
The red alert reportedly led to 35 emergency response vehicles attending. Around 80 responders - including firefighters and civil protection workers - were put on standby. It comes a day after a Ryanair flight bound for Morocco was forced to perform a U-turn and return to the UK after reports of ‘drug abuse and verbal abuse' on board.
Faro Airport has been busy after recent Ryanair issues (Getty Images)A Ryanair spokesman said today: "This flight from Stansted to Lisbon (20 Dec) diverted to Faro due to a minor technical issue with the aircraft. The aircraft landed normally, passengers disembarked and the aircraft was inspected by engineers. To minimise disruption to passengers, Ryanair organised alternative transport for passengers to Lisbon which departed earlier this afternoon."
Last Tuesday, a Ryanair plane destined for Tenerife from Manchester was forced to divert following another ‘red alert.’ A week before, a pilot fell ill on board a flight heading from London Stansted to Morocco. It also landed at Faro after the authorities were alerted to the issue.
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A spokesman for the first said: "This flight from Stansted to Morocco diverted to Faro when one of the pilots became ill. The aircraft landed normally, and passengers were transferred to an alternative aircraft operated by another crew before continuing to Morocco."
Yesterday, Essex police released a statement following reports of abusing behaviour on board. A spokesman said: "Officers at Stansted Airport assisted after a plane was returned to the airport at around 4:15pm on December 7. This was following reports of drug use and verbal abuse on board. Once the aircraft landed, officers conducted searches and no drugs were located. No arrests were made. The matter is now being managed by the airline."
A 25-year-old passenger, who didn't want to be named, said: "It was very chaotic. Everyone was freaking out and wondering what was going on. One guy was doing the brace position when we landed. We found out the plane was turning around back to Stansted about an hour into the flight. When we finally landed about four armed police came on board."
Ryanair said: "The flight from Stansted to Marrakesh (Dec 7) returned to Stansted Airport shortly after take-off when a small group of passengers became disruptive in flight. The crew called ahead for police assistance and the aircraft was met by local police upon arrival at Stansted Airport. This now a matter for local police.
"To minimise disruption to passengers, Ryanair transferred passengers on to an alternative aircraft which departed for Marrakesh later that evening. Ryanair apologises for any inconvenience caused to passengers as a result of these disruptive passengers."