An EasyJet Airbus A320 en route from Hurghada, Egypt, to Manchester, UK, was forced to divert to Athens, Greece, after the Captain became incapacitated mid-flight. The First Officer promptly took control and landed the aircraft safely at Athens International Airport.
The incident occurred on February 8, 2025, when EasyJet flight U2-2252, operating aboard an Airbus A320-200N (registration G-UZEE), was approximately two hours into its journey at an altitude of FL360. According to passengers, the situation unfolded rapidly when cabin crew members rushed to the front of the aircraft, urgently seeking medical assistance from anyone on board with the necessary training.
At the time, the aircraft was about 110 nautical miles south-southeast of Athens. The First Officer, assessing the Captain’s condition, made the decision to divert to Athens. The aircraft safely touched down on runway 03L approximately one hour later.
Upon landing, emergency response teams, including fire engines, police, and paramedics, were waiting on the tarmac to assist the crew and passengers. The Captain was taken for medical attention.
In a statement to Metro, a spokesperson for EasyJet confirmed the incident: “easyJet can confirm that flight EZY2252 from Hurghada to Manchester yesterday evening was diverted to Athens due to the Captain requiring medical assistance. The First Officer performed landing, and the aircraft was met by paramedics on arrival in Athens. As a result, the onward flight was delayed overnight, and passengers will continue their journey to Manchester today.”
The airline further assured that all possible steps were taken to minimize disruption.
“We did all we could to minimize the impact of the disruption and arranged hotel rooms and meals where available,” the spokesperson continued. “We would like to apologize to passengers for the inconvenience caused and thank them for their patience and understanding.”
The onward flight to Manchester was delayed overnight, and passengers were provided with accommodations before resuming their journey the following day.
No further details have been provided about the Captain’s condition.
