Flight forced to make emergency landing at Edinburgh Airport amid Storm Chandra

A flight bound for Newcastle from Dubai was forced to make an emergency diversion to Edinburgh Airport on Tuesday amid Storm Chandra.

Emirates fight EK35 squawked the emergency transponder code 7700 while approaching the UK, prompting air traffic control to prepare for an unscheduled landing.

The aircraft touched down safely at Edinburgh Airport at approximately 11.20am.

No injuries have been reported, and the nature of the emergency has not yet been officially confirmed.

Scotland

Storm Chandra: Rain, snow and 60mph winds to hit parts of Scotland

Three Met Office weather warnings are in force across a number of regions on Tuesday.

The diversion came as Storm Chandra battered large parts of Scotland, bringing heavy downpours, snow and strong winds, significantly disrupting travel across the country.

Three weather warnings were in force on Tuesday across the Western Isles, the Borders, the Lothians, Strathclyde, Grampian, Fife, Tayside and the Highlands, with forecasters warning of hazardous conditions.

Winds of 50 to 60mph were forecast to hit Dumfries and Galloway, Argyll and Bute and South Ayrshire from 5am until shortly before midnight, raising concerns over dangerous driving conditions, ferry disruptions and flight delays.

The extreme weather is believed to have complicated flight operations across Scotland, with several services experiencing delays and diversions throughout the morning.

An Emirates spokesperson said: “Emirates can confirm that adverse weather conditions on 27 January caused the diversion of Emirates flight EK035 from Dubai to Newcastle, to Edinburgh. The flight departed at 13:53 hrs local time. Emirates apologises for any inconvenience caused. The safety of our passengers and crew is of utmost importance and will not be compromised.”