Lufthansa Frankfurt-Toronto flight diverts to Manchester after emergency squawk

A Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Toronto diverted to Manchester Airport after its crew declared an emergency over Scottish airspace, according to the carrier's flight data and airport accounts of the arrival.

Flight LH470, a Boeing 747-430 registered as D-ABVY, left Frankfurt at 15:00 local time (13:00 UTC) and climbed to a cruising altitude of 32,000 feet while crossing the Netherlands. About an hour and a half into the flight, while over Scotland, the crew turned the jet to the left and transmitted squawk 7700, the transponder code that signals a general emergency.

Air traffic control directed the four-engine aircraft to Manchester. It landed on Runway 23R at 15:57 local time (14:57 UTC).

The 25-year-old jet was carrying fuel for a long Atlantic crossing, so the crew made a heavy landing. As a precaution used for overweight arrivals, the aircraft stopped on a taxiway, where airport fire and emergency vehicles surrounded it to check the brakes and landing gear for overheating.

Lufthansa scheduled a new departure from Manchester for 17:15 local time to continue to Toronto Pearson International Airport, setting aside time for inspections and operational clearance. The source did not state what prompted the emergency declaration or whether anyone on board was injured.