XL flight makes emergency landing in Larnaca

AN XL Airways flight en route to Manchester had to make an emergency landing at Larnaca Airport in the early hours of yesterday morning due to technical problems.

Flight XLA 219 from Sharm el-Sheikh had to make the landing using only one engine.

An Hermes Airports Ltd press release, read out to reporters by company spokesman Adamos Aspris, stated: “Larnaca International Airport was put on alert at 1am local time, in order to handle the emergency.

“The XL Airways Boeing 737-900 informed Larnaca Control Tower that it was facing an emergency and requested landing clearance.”

The plane, carrying 208 passengers, including the crew, landed safely at Larnaca at 1.50am local time.

“We wish to express our satisfaction because, in a real emergency situation, the impeccable coordination of all involved services of Larnaca Airport was proven, such as the Control Tower, Civil Aviation, Fire Services, the Police, hospital authorities and the Hermes Operation Centre,” the company said.

The affected passengers later boarded several flights back to Manchester.

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