An easyJet flight was forced to make an emergency landing after passengers reported a smell of smoke onboard. The Airbus A320, traveling from Cyprus to Bristol, was diverted to Izmir, Turkey, just one hour and 20 minutes after departure.
The aircraft had taken off from Paphos and was cruising at about 36,000 feet when the smoke concerns arose. According to AirLive, the plane abruptly changed course west of Turkey and began its descent. The pilot decided to divert the flight as a precautionary measure.
easyJet confirmed the incident in a statement: “Flight EZY2902 from Paphos to Bristol diverted to Izmir due to a technical issue resulting in a smoke smell onboard. The aircraft landed safely and was met by emergency services as a routine precaution. All passengers disembarked normally and were provided with hotel accommodation and meals where necessary.”
The airline added that passengers would continue to Bristol later on a replacement aircraft. “The safety of our customers and crew is easyJet’s highest priority. We operate our fleet strictly following all manufacturers’ guidelines. We thank customers for their understanding and apologize for the inconvenience.”
This emergency landing follows the recent tragic Air India crash near Ahmedabad, India, which claimed 270 lives and shocked the global aviation community. The plane failed to gain altitude after takeoff and crashed into a densely populated area.
A vigil was held in London today to honor the victims. Among those remembered were two young girls left orphaned when their father—who had been flying to scatter his late wife’s ashes—was killed in the crash.
Air India confirmed that 241 of the 242 passengers onboard perished in the accident, with officials later raising the death toll. British passenger Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, aged 40, was the sole survivor and shared his harrowing experience of witnessing the tragedy unfold.
