Air France Houston-Paris flight diverts to Dublin over medical emergency

An Air France flight from Houston to Paris diverted to Dublin Airport early on Monday after a passenger became ill on board, according to the airline's flight information cited in reports of the diversion.

Flight AF99, a Boeing 777-300ER registered F-GZNH, left George Bush Intercontinental Airport shortly after 4:00 PM local time on Sunday, October 18. Close to eight hours later, cruising at 34,000 feet south of Ireland, the crew transmitted a general emergency signal, squawking 7700, to air traffic control.

A passenger required immediate medical assistance. Controllers directed the widebody toward the Irish mainland and cleared it for Dublin Airport, where medical crews were on standby. The aircraft turned left toward the coast and touched down on Runway 28L about 40 minutes after the emergency was declared.

The 777 taxied to a remote stand, where emergency services met the aircraft to assess and treat the passenger. After the medical response and administrative formalities, the flight was scheduled to resume to Paris-Charles de Gaulle shortly before 8:35 AM local time.

Air France did not release details about the passenger's identity or condition.