A Virgin Atlantic flight en route to Jamaica had to turn back over the Atlantic Ocean and land in Ireland due to an engine failure mid-flight. Flight VS165 departed London Heathrow at 4:12pm on Saturday and encountered engine trouble nearly three hours into the journey across the North Atlantic.

The aircraft, carrying 246 passengers and 13 crew members, was headed to Montego Bay, Jamaica. To avoid further complications, the crew decided to shut down the malfunctioning engine and return to Europe. The plane operated with reduced performance, descending to a single-engine cruise altitude of 20,000 feet as it headed back to Ireland.

Air traffic controllers directed the flight to Shannon Airport on Ireland’s west coast, a crucial emergency diversion point for transatlantic journeys. Upon landing at 9:24pm IST, emergency services at Shannon Airport deployed crash tenders, with additional support from the National Ambulance Service, Gardaí, and Clare County Fire and Rescue Service.

The Irish Coast Guard and RNLI lifeboat were also on standby as a precautionary measure. Emergency vehicles followed the airplane closely as it taxied to the runway. After thorough inspections confirmed no active fire, all passengers and crew safely disembarked without any injuries.

Virgin Atlantic arranged for a replacement plane to transport the stranded travelers to Jamaica. Engineers are currently investigating the cause of the engine failure.