An aircraft operated by national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines made an emergency landing in Dubai, the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on Sunday during the flight from Britain to Vietnam as a passenger was ill and needed emergency treatment.

Flight VN50 leaving Heathrow Airport in Britain at 5:00 am (British time) on Saturday for Ho Chi Minh City landed unexpectedly at Dubai International Airport seven hours after taking off, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

After discovering a passenger, a 36-year-old French national, suffering shortness of breath, the flight crew of the plane called on a volunteer doctor on board to examine the health of the passenger.

However, the passenger’s health condition did not improve, so the captain and the crew decided to land at the nearest airport.

The plane arrived at the Dubai airport at 8:55 am on Sunday (UAE time) so that the ill passenger could receive emergency treatment.

After the passenger was taken to an emergency room, the plane was filled up with jet fuel and continued on its journey to Ho Chi Minh City.

The aircraft landed safely at Tan Son Nhat International Airport at 5:43 pm on the same day, five hours and 13 minutes later than scheduled.

The passenger’s health condition is now stable.

This is not the first time that Vietnam Airlines has changed its flight schedules to save ill passengers.

The airline has either delayed its planes or allowed aircraft to make emergency landings due to passengers’ weak health conditions many times.

“Landing unexpectedly to ensure the safety of passengers is a need. This action requires a timely decision from flight crews and an airline. Though changes in flight schedules cost a fortune and take much time, the safety of passengers is put at first at Vietnam Airlines,” said a Vietnam Airlines representative.

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