Flight VN30, en route from Frankfurt to Ho Chi Minh City, was diverted to Istanbul International Airport in Türkiye on September 17 to address a medical emergency. (Photo published by VNA)
Vietnam Airlines flight VN30, en route from Frankfurt to Ho Chi Minh City, was diverted to Istanbul International Airport in Türkiye on September 17 to address a medical emergency involving a passenger with severe health issues.
The Boeing 787, which took off at 2.05 pm (local time), altered its course roughly an hour into the flight after a 57-year-old Vietnamese male passenger showed serious symptoms. The crew issued an emergency medical call and three doctors on board provided first aid, but his condition failed to improve.
The captain opted for an unscheduled landing at Istanbul International Airport and alerted ground services for medical support. After a safe touchdown, the passenger was transferred immediately to a local hospital.
The crew worked with Turkish authorities and ground handlers to complete required procedures and refuel. Flight VN30 then resumed its journey to Ho Chi Minh City at 5.32 pm (local time), landing about three hours and 20 minutes behind schedule.
Vietnam Airlines acknowledged the added costs of fuel, ground handling, and schedule disruptions, but stressed that passenger safety and health remain its top priority.
This was not the first time the carrier had rerouted flights for medical emergencies. On June 29, flight VN7569 from Hanoi to Cam Ranh diverted to Danang, and on May 5, flight VN35 from Hanoi to Frankfurt made an unscheduled stop in Erzurum, Türkiye, for similar reasons.
The airline urged passengers to monitor their health before flying, advising those with unusual symptoms to consult a doctor and consider delaying travel to ensure safety.
