Plane from New York to Kuwait diverts to UK after declaring state of emergency
Kuwait Airways flight 118 has landed at Heathrow Airport
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A plane on its way from New York to Kuwait has diverted to the UK after declaring a state of emergency when a woman fell ill.
Kuwait Airways flight 118 sent out an emergency signal as it travelled over Europe shortly after 8am and turned back over Germany.
Flight tracking data shows the Boeing 777 headed straight for Britain and landed at London Heathrow Airport at around 9.10am.
Only one passenger was taken off the plane but reports on social media had claimed six passengers were affected by severe food poisoning.
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called just before 8.45am to reports of a passenger taken unwell on a flight from New York to Kuwait.
“The aircraft was diverted to Heathrow and we sent an ambulance crew and a cycle responder. We treated one woman and took her to Hillingdon hospital.”
The woman's illness was not confirmed but the spokesperson said she "became unwell" during the flight, which had been due to land in Kuwait City at 9.25pm (BST) tonight.
A spokesperson for Heathrow Airport said: “KU118 from JFK to Kuwait was diverted to Heathrow after a passenger was taken ill on-board.
"The passenger was looked after London Ambulance Service and the flight is resuming its journey shortly.”
The diversion came the day after Isis bombed a Shia mosque in the country, killing at least 27 people on Friday.
Several people with alleged links to the suicide bomber have since been arrested.
British tourists were among dozens of people shot dead by an Isis militant on a beach in Tunisia yesterday and a man was also beheaded in France on the day becoming known as 'Bloody Friday'.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments