Overview
- Flight EI680 departed Dublin at 06:26 IST on Thursday and reached a cruising altitude of about 37,000 feet before the emergency was declared.
- While over the south of England the crew broadcast the Squawk 7700 transponder code to signal a general onboard emergency and air traffic control cleared a rapid descent.
- The Airbus A320neo registered EI-NSG diverted to London Gatwick and touched down safely on runway 26L at about 07:25 BST.
- Aer Lingus has been approached for comment and the specific cause of the emergency has not been confirmed, with authorities and the airline continuing follow-up checks.
- Squawk 7700 signals a general emergency and normally triggers immediate priority handling and airport emergency services, so the aircraft will face technical inspections and passengers could experience delays while investigators review the incident.