TUI flight with 187 passengers was involved in 'serious incident' above UK

A TUI plane carrying 187 passengers in was embroiled in a "serious incident" above the UK last year, a shock new report has emerged. The TUI flight was carrying 187 passengers and declared a "serious incident" onboard minutes into leaving Manchester Airport for Kos, in Greece, in the European Union, back in 2023.

The flight for TUI, which is rivalled by Easyjet, Jet2 and Ryanair, has been probed by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch. The report said: "Both engine bleed air systems had been inadvertently left off for the departure, so the aircraft failed to pressurise."

The incident unfolded in October last year. As pilots continued the climb, the master caution lit up, indicating a fault in the aircraft's right air conditioning pack. After consulting the operator's maintenance control, the commander concluded that the plane should return to Manchester Airport.

READ MORE Urgent 'stay at home' warning issued over nasty bug 'sweeping all age groups'

But the plane was too heavy, and they were forced to enter a holding pattern and burn fuel before they could land. During this time, crew failed to complete the necessary cabin altitude drills with passengers, who were left "exposed to the risk of hypoxia".

Hypoxia is low levels of oxygen in your body tissues. It causes symptoms like confusion, restlessness, difficulty breathing, rapid heart rate, and bluish skin. Many chronic heart and lung conditions can put you at risk for hypoxia. Hypoxia can be life-threatening.

The plane subsequently landed without incident. "Though the commander did not believe fatigue was a factor in this event, the analysis of his roster over the eight weeks preceding the event and the rest period immediately before it suggest that fatigue could still have been a contributory factor," the report goes on to add.

The report continued, saying: "It should be noted that fatigue, particularly chronic fatigue, can be insidious such that an individual may not recognise the symptoms in themselves." The Mirror newspaper reports airline TUI has been approached for comment.