EasyJet flight forced to divert back to UK airport in 'extraordinary circumstance'

An easyJet flight was forced to divert back to a UK airportafter an "extraordinary circumstance" the airline said was "out of our control".

The EZY2159 service bound for Izmir, Turkey, took off from Manchester Airport shortly before 5pm today, and only got as far as Norfolk before suddenly diverting back to Manchester. A FlightRadar map showed the moment the planetook a dramatic U-turn over the North Sea before landing in Manchester again at around 5.50pm - roughly an hour after it departed.

The airline put the diversion down to a "passenger welfare issue". The disruption, easyJet said, was "out of our control" and considered "an extraordinary circumstance". In an update posted to the easyJet website, the budget airline said the flight was grounded overnight, with plans being made for another service to run on Tuesday morning.

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Specific details about the nature of the incident have not been released. A further update at 9pm read: "We're sorry that your flight has been delayed overnight. This is due to a passenger welfare issue. We are working hard to arrange your new flight for tomorrow. Once again, we're very sorry for the disruption to your travel plans."

The Mirror has contacted easyJet for comment.

This comes as thousands of UK holidaymakers are ditching traditional European hotspots in favour of north Africa, travel companies have reported.

Experts say many people are being drawn to the region by its wide availability of high-quality hotels costing considerably less than similar properties in locations such as Spain, France and Italy.

North African countries Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia are all experiencing a boost in visitors from the UK.

Figures from aviation analysts Cirium show 19,847 flights are projected to serve routes from UK airports to those nations this year, more than twice as many as the 8,653 that did so in 2019.

By comparison, the number of flights to Spain and Portugal is forecast to increase by 10% and 9% respectively over the same period.

This suggests many holidaymakers who want better quality accommodation without paying more are prepared to take a longer flight, despite airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair having seats that do not recline and no onboard entertainment.

Flights from Gatwick airport, West Sussex, to Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh take about five hours and 20 minutes.

That means spending an extra hour and 45 minutes on a plane compared with trips to the traditional southern Spanish hotspot of Alicante.

EasyJet launched flights between Gatwick and Cape Verde, off the coast of west Africa, in March, which is its longest route serving England.

The flights take six hours and 10 minutes to cover the distance of 2,332 nautical miles.

Travel company Tui said bookings from flight-only and package holiday customers for summer breaks in Egypt are 30% higher compared with a year ago.

It also reported “double-digit growth” for Tunisia and strong demand for Morocco.

Tui’s UK commercial director Chris Logan said these three destinations offer “fantastic value for money”, meaning traditional European destinations find it “hard to compete”.

He told the PA news agency: “There’s good quality accommodation and great weather beyond the traditional summer season.

“Even in the winter months temperatures are mild, making them a perfect choice for year-round travel.”

Tui has increased its flights from the UK to north Africa this summer to meet growing demand, with new routes from Stansted to Enfidha in Tunisia and from Newcastle to Agadir, Morocco.

Online accommodation marketplace Booking.com said it recorded a 68% increase in the number of searches for summer breaks in Tunisia during the first five months of this year, compared with the same period in 2024.

Egypt and Morocco saw rises of 64% and 39% respectively.

Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, managing director at travel agency Barrhead Travel, said Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia offer “incredible value for money” which is “proving increasingly attractive for holidaymakers this year”.

She added: “The investment in high-quality hotels and experiences across these regions is turning the heads of customers who may previously have favoured mainland Europe.

“Although favourites such as Spain and Turkey are still our top-selling destinations, it’s safe to say north Africa is a region to watch over the next few years.”

Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said there is a “clear trend toward value-conscious holiday planning”.

She went on: “Ongoing cost of living pressures and squeezed disposable incomes have meant that while people remain committed to taking holidays, they’re increasingly focused on maximising value for money.

“This shift has driven growing popularity for destinations like Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia, which offer more competitive pricing and high-quality accommodation options compared to the more traditional western Mediterranean resorts.”