Ryanair flight to Tenerife diverted after passenger suffers medical emergency

A Ryanair flight carrying passengers from Dublin to Tenerife South had to be diverted to mainland Spain yesterday, Tuesday 20th October, after a passenger suffered a medical emergency.

The early-morning service, FR5555, was scheduled to leave Dublin at 5:45am and arrive in Tenerife at 10:10am.

Instead, the crew changed course for Santiago–Rosalía de Castro Airport so medical assistance could be arranged for the passenger.

The pilots initially requested holding manoeuvres while preparing for the approach. Once they were ready, Spanish air-traffic controllers cleared the aircraft directly towards runway 35 and gave it priority to land.

Another aircraft arriving from Vitoria was moved from its planned approach to create space, while controllers coordinated medical assistance on the ground.

The diverted flight reportedly landed in Santiago at 9:20am mainland Spanish time, equivalent to 8:20am in Ireland and the Canary Islands.

It subsequently continued to Tenerife South, where its recorded arrival was 11:27am local time — one hour and 17 minutes later than scheduled.

The passenger was reported to have required hospital treatment, although their condition and the nature of the medical emergency have not been confirmed.