Manchester, England – A flight from Manchester Airport to Kos in Greece had a harrowing experience when a technical error caused the aircraft to fail to pressurize midair. The incident, which occurred on a Tui Airways flight carrying 193 passengers, was detailed in an official report that highlighted the risks the passengers faced during the flight.
The Boeing 737-8K5 activated a cabin altitude warning as it flew over Lincolnshire in eastern England, prompting its return to Manchester Airport. Fortunately, no injuries were reported; however, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report indicated that passengers were at risk of experiencing a drop in oxygen levels during the incident.
Investigations found that maintenance work carried out on the air conditioning system before takeoff led to the improper positioning of bleed air switches, which regulate air pressure inside the plane. Despite the oversight of not turning on the switches being made by both engineers and pilots, the crew failed to follow safety procedures outlined in the Quick Reaction Handbook (QRH).
The report suggested that donning oxygen masks immediately after the warning was activated could have mitigated the risk of hypoxia for the pilots. The aircraft continued to climb for 43 minutes after the switches were turned back on, with the warning sign still active before the decision was made to consult with the Tui maintenance team at Manchester Airport and return to the airport.
Hypoxia, a condition where the brain is deprived of oxygen, can result from various factors, including reaching high altitudes or loss of cabin pressure. The Federal Aviation Administration highlights that recognizing the onset of hypoxia symptoms can be challenging for individuals. Furthermore, individual reactions to hypoxia can vary greatly among pilots.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Tui regarding the incident were unsuccessful at the time of reporting. The investigation into the midair pressurization failure provides critical insights into the importance of adhering to safety protocols and procedures to ensure the well-being of passengers and crew during flights.