The flight from Liverpool to Mallorca declared a mid-air emergency near Manchester.

12:56, Thu, Aug 6, 2026 Updated: 12:57, Thu, Aug 6, 2026

Jet2 flight from Liverpool to Mallorca diverted after emergency declared

A passenger on board a Jet2 flight to Spain has revealed the moment the pilot alerted the cabin to a mid-air emergency before the aircraft was forced to turn around. The flight from Liverpool to Mallorca reportedly declared an emergency at 12,875ft near Manchester, aviation alert service Squawk reports.

It said the Boeing 737-800 issued a 7700 alert - the international code for a general emergency. An anonymous passenger who was travelling for a long weekend break with his wife, brother, and sister-in-law described the moment the pilot told everyone, "We need to land".

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Jet2 Boeing 737 in nice evening light

A Jet2 plane was forced to divert. (Image: Getty)

He told the Liverpool Echo: "There was a sudden vibration and more noise than normal as soon as we took off. We felt the vibrations, we felt something. It wasn't enough to alarm anyone, but we noticed a change; we noticed something wasn't right.

"Everyone was calm, we didn't speak about it, but everyone knew something was going on. Around 15 minutes into the flight, the captain said there was an issue. Everyone remained calm, and the stewards were professional.

"The captain reassured everyone, Jet2 have been so good, there was lots of kids on the flight. The pilot said he believed it was a bird strike and that we would need to land and check it out. We turned around to Manchester and landed safely."

Flight tracking website Flightradar24 showed the plane changed direction at 8am as it travelled over Shrewsbury before heading back towards Liverpool. The flight then diverted to Manchester, where it landed safely before 9.45am.

Another passenger on board the flight told the outlet that the plane began "vibrating" after takeoff, and shortly after, the captain informed everyone of the issue.

She said: "As soon as the plane took off, there was a sudden vibration and more noise, but nothing that alarmed passengers. Around 15 minutes into the flight, the captain said there was an issue.

"Everyone remained calm, and the stewards were professional. The captain reassured everyone. The plane landed safely at Manchester airport, and we are expecting to get on another flight to resume our journey around 11.25am."

At this stage, it is unclear why the aircraft squawked 7700, but the code alerts air traffic controllers on the ground that the flight needs immediate priority, clearance, and assistance.

Pilots input 7700 for engine failures, severe electrical or mechanical malfunctions, smoke or fire, or critical passenger medical emergencies.

Air traffic controllers immediately clear the surrounding airspace to give the distressed aircraft priority handling and ready emergency services on the ground.

Jet2 has been contacted for comment.