A Vietnam Airlines plane lands at Frankfurt Airport in Germany on May 6, 2025. Photo courtesy of Vietnam Airlines

A Vietnam Airlines flight from Hanoi to Frankfurt was forced to make an emergency landing in Turkey on May 6 after a 61-year-old passenger experienced a serious medical emergency mid-flight.

Flight VN37 had been in the air for about eight hours when the Vietnamese male passenger began showing symptoms of severe breathing difficulty and oxygen deficiency. Cabin crew immediately issued an onboard medical call, and a doctor on the flight stepped in to help administer first aid and oxygen.

With the seriousness of the man’s condition, the flight crew decided to divert the aircraft to the nearest suitable airport. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner touched down at Erzurum Airport in eastern Turkey at 10:32 a.m. (Vietnam time), allowing emergency medical teams to quickly board the plane. The passenger, accompanied by a family member, was transferred to a local hospital for urgent care.

The flight resumed its journey at 3:00 p.m. the same day after completing all procedural checks and receiving clearance from Turkish authorities. It arrived in Frankfurt more than six hours behind schedule.

Despite the delay, passengers reportedly supported the crew’s swift decision, commending them for prioritizing the passenger’s wellbeing.

Vietnam Airlines said the incident highlights its commitment to safety and its crew’s professionalism in responding to emergencies. While diversions come with financial and logistical costs, including extra fuel, ground handling, and flight rescheduling, the airline emphasized that health and safety remain its top priority.

This is not the first time the national carrier has rerouted a flight to respond to a medical emergency. In January, flight VN1602 from Buon Ma Thuot to Hanoi was diverted to Da Nang to assist an ailing passenger. And in December 2024, VN307 from Tokyo to Ho Chi Minh City landed in Taiwan for similar reasons.