Qantas Flight Diverted to Baku Due to Medical Emergency
A Qantas flight, QF2, traveling from London to Singapore, experienced an unexpected detour. The flight was forced to make an emergency landing at Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Passenger's Medical Crisis Prompts Emergency Landing
The Airbus A380, carrying approximately 400 passengers, had been airborne for eight hours when a passenger suffered a medical emergency. The crew responded swiftly, requesting an emergency landing in Baku. The affected passenger, a woman in her 60s, received immediate medical attention upon landing.
Stranded Passengers and Airline Response
Qantas issued an apology for the inconvenience caused by the diversion. The airline arranged hotel accommodations and temporary visas for the stranded passengers. A continuation flight to Singapore was promptly scheduled.
Baku Becomes Temporary Maintenance Hub
The A380 was scheduled for routine maintenance in Singapore; however, the airline confirmed that those checks would now take place in Baku. An engineer was flown in to oversee the inspections.
Similar Incident Earlier in June
This recent incident echoes a similar situation earlier in June when another Qantas flight was diverted to the Maldives.
Baku's History as a Diversion Point
Baku has served as a diversion airport for Qantas in the past. In 2022, a Qantas A380 landed there after a cargo smoke alert.