Lufthansa 747 diverts to Manchester with cabin odour, second jumbo sent for passengers

A Lufthansa Boeing 747-400 flying from Frankfurt to Toronto diverted to Manchester on Saturday 26 September after an odour was detected in the cabin, according to the airline. The aircraft, registration D-ABVY, landed with the emergency squawk code 7700. Lufthansa said the flight crew declared an emergency in order to obtain a priority landing. The jet remains in Manchester for inspection.

The diversion affected 371 passengers. On Sunday 27 September, Lufthansa dispatched another Boeing 747-400, registration D-ABVW, to Manchester to collect them. That aircraft flew from Frankfurt to Manchester in the afternoon and then continued to Toronto as flight LH 470. As of Monday morning 28 September, D-ABVY was still at Manchester.

Manchester does not normally see Boeing 747 passenger services; no jumbo jet features in the airport's scheduled flight programme. The appearance of two of the type at the English airport on successive days was therefore unusual.

The two aircraft are among the eight Boeing 747-400s still in the German carrier's fleet. Each is configured with 67 business class seats, 32 premium economy seats and 272 economy seats. Lufthansa plans to retire the 747-400 in 2027. The Boeing 747-8 will remain in the fleet for longer.

Only a small number of airlines still operate the Boeing 747 as a passenger aircraft. Lufthansa plans to keep the 747-400 in service until 2027, with the newer 747-8 flying on for longer.