What happens when a flight is diverted to another airport?
Friday, June 27, 2025
What is a flight diversion?
Flight diversions: definition and frequency
Flight diversions are unavoidable circumstances in the aviation industry where an aircraft changes its route towards an alternate airport instead of the original destination due to reasons beyond the cabin crew's control. On average, there are 210 diverted flights per million flights.
Recent examples of diverted flights
May 24, 2025 – easyJet flight Dalaman (Turkey) to Manchester (UK) diverted to Frankfurt:
A passenger caused panic on board by shouting about how there was a bomb on board and attempting to open the emergency door mid-flight. According to the other passengers, she also tried to reach for life jackets and get oxygen masks out. The crew and passengers restrained her, and the plane rerouted and landed in Frankfurt around 1.30 am. Due to limited airport ground handling availability, passengers had to stay on board for several hours. Moreover, there was limited hotel availability, so some passengers had to stay overnight at the terminal. EasyJet provided refreshment vouchers to the passengers.
May 8, 2025 – Brussels to Castellón (Spain) flight diverted to Limoges:
A passenger began feeling contractions shortly after takeoff, and soon she went into labour and gave birth on board. The flight was then diverted to the nearest suitable airport, which was Limoges Airport (LIG) in France. Emergency services, such as SMUR ambulance, paramedics, and a doctor, were all dispatched to the airport for assistance. However, thanks to the medical professionals on the flight, the delivery was managed before landing in Limoges.
December 27, 2024 – easyJet flight Antalya (Turkey) to London Gatwick diverted to Bari (Italy):
A teenager disrupted the flight by assaulting crew members and threatening to stab them. She also attempted to open the plane door and broke the door handle. She was restrained, and the plane was met by police in Bari. The cause of diversion was an unruly passenger, which is considered an extraordinary circumstance. Therefore, passengers were assisted with hotel accommodation and meal vouchers, but not compensated.
Why do flights get diverted?
Adverse weather conditions
Weather conditions are the most common and unpredictable cause of a flight diversion. In case of storms, fog, or strong winds, a flight may be diverted. For more info about cancelled or diverted flights due to bad weather, see our guide.
Technical or mechanical problems
Sometimes, technical or mechanical problems on board lead to necessary flight diversions. These problems include avionics failures (malfunctions in electronic systems that control navigation and communication), hydraulic failures (causing problems in vital functions, including landing gear and brakes), and engine failures.
Medical emergencies on board
When medical emergencies, such as having a stroke, asthma attack, allergic reactions, or giving birth, occur on board, the flight gets diverted to equip the necessary medical facilities as soon as possible.
Unruly passengers or threats on board
Some diverted flights are caused by passengers behaving dangerously or inappropriately. For instance, when the safety of the passengers on board is threatened by unruly passengers, suspicious objects found on board, or a bomb threat, the flight is diverted to the nearest airport to remove the unruly passengers or threats off board. Here’s what you should never do on a plane, according to a flight attendant.
Incidents or threats at the destination airport
Planes sometimes must divert to an alternate airport because of incidents or threats at the original destination airport. Among other things, these incidents include a bomb threat, a cyberattack, or a passenger carrying a weapon or explosive item.
What happens during a flight diversion?
Pilot decision and coordination with air traffic control
After identifying one of the problems listed above, the pilot will decide whether the flight diversion is necessary or not. If yes, the pilot must alert ATC (air traffic control) regarding the need for flight diversion and coordinate with ATC to optimise the most efficient route towards an alternative airport.
Cabin preparation and passenger notification
Cabin crew must inform the passenger about the flight diversion, the cause of the diversion, the new destination airport, and the estimated arrival time. It is important that cabin crews keep passengers updated and help them stay calm.
Landing at the diversion airport
If the cause of the diverted flight is minor, the plane will resume its journey towards the original destination after a short delay. However, if the cause of flight diversion is more serious, the airline must assist passengers so that they reach their original destination by an alternate aircraft or even an alternate mode of transportation such as trains or buses.
Passenger support after landing
A diverted flight causes significant discomfort to passengers, as this unexpected delay may lead to passengers missing their close connecting flights or personal events, such as weddings and graduation ceremonies. To support these affected passengers, the airline provides several assistance after landing. Check out the section below for more details.
What are my rights if my flight is diverted?
Compensation and assistance based on the diversion cause
If the flight diversion is caused by the airline, such as when the aircraft has mechanical or technical malfunctions, then passengers are entitled to both flight delay compensation and assistance. If the diversion caused you to miss a connecting flight, know that you have rights in case of a missed connection, including possible compensation.
However, the diverted flight may be caused by extraordinary circumstances, such as severe weather conditions or unruly passengers. In these cases, passengers are not eligible for compensation for a diverted flight.
Right to care (accommodation, meals, rebooking)
After a flight diversion, passengers have the right to be assisted with meal vouchers, a place of accommodation if the flight diversion results in an overnight stay, and rebooking of the alternative flight to the destination at no additional cost.
What should I do if my flight is diverted?
Was your flight diverted to another destination? Keep calm and wait for the announcement of the next available flight for you to be transferred to. If the alternative flight is available only the day after, you can stay the night in an accommodation provided by the airline. After you finally reach your destination, check if you are eligible for flight compensation using the free claim calculator at Flight Delayed UK!
Conclusion: Handling unexpected diverted flight
Flight diversions may be rare (only 0.25% of flights were diverted between January and November 2024), but the unexpected delay could still cause confusion and panic among the passengers. Just remember to keep calm and follow the cabin crew's instructions regarding how to get on board the next available flight.
What happens if my flight gets delayed or cancelled?
Was your flight delayed by at least 3 hours because of a diverted flight or cancelled within 14 days before the departure? Don’t worry! According to the EU261 regulations, you may be eligible for flight compensation of up to £520 at Flight Delayed UK! Check your eligibility using our free claim calculator and make a claim now!
We hope you find this information useful, have a safe and amazing trip!
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