An Emirates flight from Dubai to Newcastle was forced to divert to Edinburgh on Tuesday as Storm Chandra battered the UK, testing emergency procedures at two of northern Britain’s key airports but ultimately resulting in a safe landing and orderly handling of passengers.

The incident unfolded against a backdrop of wider nationwide disruption, highlighting how UK aviation infrastructure responds when extreme weather collides with a busy international schedule.

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What Happened to Emirates Flight EK35

Emirates flight EK35, a Boeing 777 service from Dubai to Newcastle, was scheduled to land in northeast England late on the morning of 27 January. As Storm Chandra’s strong winds and poor visibility intensified across the region, the aircraft’s flight path showed multiple circuits over Newcastle and the nearby coastline while the crew evaluated whether it was safe to approach the runway.

According to live flight-tracking data and local media reports, the crew carried out two approaches to Newcastle Airport before breaking off each time in what is known as a go-around. A go-around is a standard safety manoeuvre, used worldwide when pilots are not fully satisfied with the stability of a landing, whether due to wind shear, runway conditions, traffic spacing or other operational factors.

As conditions remained challenging, the pilots declared a general emergency using the internationally recognised Squawk 7700 transponder code. That step does not automatically mean a life-threatening situation on board, but it signals to air traffic controllers and ground services that the aircraft must be given priority and that emergency support should be readied as a precaution.

Shortly afterwards, EK35 turned north and left Newcastle’s airspace, setting course for Edinburgh, where weather conditions and operational capacity were assessed to be more favourable for a safe landing and passenger disembarkation.

Edinburgh’s Role in the Safe Diversion

Edinburgh Airport confirmed that the Emirates aircraft landed safely after declaring an emergency and that local emergency services were placed on standby as part of standard procedure. Airport fire and medical teams routinely position near the runway whenever an incoming flight signals Squawk 7700, even if the underlying cause may be precautionary or non-technical.

The aircraft touched down without incident, and there were no immediate reports of injuries or technical damage. Passengers were kept on the ground in Edinburgh while ground staff, Emirates operations teams and air traffic controllers coordinated next steps, including potential onward transport to Newcastle once conditions or scheduling allowed.

Scotland’s busiest airport is accustomed to acting as an alternate landing site for long-haul flights operating across the North Atlantic and from the Gulf, particularly during periods of severe weather in northern England. Its relatively long runway, around-the-clock emergency services and established Emirates presence since the carrier resumed daily flights to the Scottish capital make it a logical diversion option for Dubai services unable to land further south.

Although diversions can cause concern among passengers, Edinburgh’s response illustrates how contingency plans are designed to prioritise a safe arrival above all else, with comfort and onward journey arrangements handled only after the aircraft is securely on the ground.

How Newcastle Airport Managed the Incident

Newcastle Airport, the intended destination for EK35, experienced the sharp end of Storm Chandra’s weather impacts on Tuesday, with gusty crosswinds and low cloud complicating landing attempts on its main runway. As is standard, tower controllers, operations staff and the Emirates flight crew worked together in real time to decide whether a safe landing was feasible.

The two go-arounds attempted by EK35 would have been conducted in close coordination with air traffic control, ensuring safe separation from other aircraft and verifying that all runway and navigation systems were functioning normally. When it became clear that conditions were unlikely to improve within the flight’s available time and fuel parameters, diverting northward was deemed the safest course of action.

Newcastle has long handled a mix of leisure and business traffic from the Middle East and beyond, making the airport a key gateway for passengers connecting between the Gulf and northern England or southern Scotland. Disruptions there resonate across the wider regional network, particularly on a day when Storm Chandra was already affecting road, rail and ferry services in multiple parts of the UK.

While Newcastle Airport did not immediately issue detailed public comment on the diversion, the incident underscores the airport’s adherence to conservative safety margins during high winds, where even modern jet aircraft can be required to abandon landings if turbulence or crosswind components exceed operational limits.

Storm Chandra’s Wider Impact on UK Travel

The Emirates diversion unfolded as Storm Chandra swept across the UK with heavy rain, gales and, in some northern and upland regions, snow and ice. The Met Office issued a broad spread of yellow and amber weather warnings spanning all four nations, signalling a high likelihood of disruption to transport and power networks.

In the south west of England, major rivers overtopped their banks after days of rain, prompting severe flood warnings and cutting off some communities. Roads became impassable due to standing water and fallen trees, while local authorities reported damage to coastal infrastructure following large waves and storm surges.

Further north, the same turbulent weather system brought strong, shifting winds to areas served by Newcastle and other regional airports. While many flights managed to land and depart with manageable delays, a proportion were cancelled outright or diverted to less affected airports, including Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester. Rail operators also reported line closures due to obstructions and flooding, limiting overland alternatives for stranded airline passengers.

For travellers, the combined effect was a patchwork of delays, cancellations and rebookings across multiple modes of transport. However, the structure of the UK’s aviation and rail networks, with several major hubs in relatively close proximity, allowed airlines and airports to absorb diverted flights and redistribute capacity where weather conditions were more favourable.

What Diversion Means for Passengers and Their Rights

For passengers on EK35 and similar flights diverted by Storm Chandra, the immediate experience typically includes an extended time on board while ground crews secure a stand, arrange immigration and customs clearance if necessary, and coordinate with the airline’s local team. Once deplaned, travellers are generally offered refreshments and information on how they will reach their original destination.

Under UK and European passenger protection rules, travellers departing from a UK or European airport, or flying into the UK on an EU or UK carrier, are entitled to care and assistance during extended delays, including meals, refreshments and, if an overnight stay becomes necessary, hotel accommodation and transport between the airport and the hotel. Although Emirates is a non-European airline flying from Dubai to the UK, the expectation in practice is that carriers will still provide reasonable care in major weather incidents, even if specific compensation for delays caused by extraordinary circumstances such as storms may not be mandated.

Passengers affected by diversions usually retain their original booking reference and ticket, with airlines either operating a short positioning flight to the intended destination once the weather improves or arranging alternative ground transport. In some cases, particularly where a large number of flights are disrupted, travellers may be rebooked onto later services or offered the option to change travel dates without penalty.

Travel insurers generally classify severe weather as a recognised cause of disruption, but policy terms vary. Passengers are advised to keep boarding passes, receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses and written confirmation of delays or cancellations to support possible claims, especially where an overnight stay or substantial rerouting has been required.

How UK Airports Prepare for Extreme Weather

Both Edinburgh and Newcastle Airports operate detailed severe-weather plans that are activated when storms like Chandra are forecast. These plans cover runway inspections, de-icing procedures, staffing levels in air traffic control and ground operations, and coordination with airlines to anticipate likely cancellations or diversions.

In winter, runway friction testing and rapid response to standing water or slush are particularly important, ensuring that surfaces meet stringent braking action standards before landings are permitted. Wind readings are constantly monitored from multiple points around the airfield, and these data are shared in real time with crews planning their approaches.

For international carriers such as Emirates, the decision to divert is often made in conjunction with the airline’s operations control centre in Dubai. Specialists there monitor global weather developments and airspace conditions, advising flight crews on fuel planning, alternate airports and potential route adjustments long before an aircraft nears its destination.

The Emirates diversion to Edinburgh also benefited from the carrier’s existing infrastructure in Scotland, including handling agents, ground equipment and local partnerships. This allowed staff to respond quickly to an unscheduled arrival, process passengers efficiently and protect the integrity of the wider schedule, which remains under pressure from weather-related disruption in other regions.

What Travellers Should Know for Upcoming Journeys

With Storm Chandra still working its way across the British Isles and saturated ground in many areas, travel experts warn that further disruption is possible in the coming days. Airlines, including Emirates, publish rolling travel advisories on their websites and through mobile apps, while UK airports and the national meteorological service provide frequent updates on conditions.

For passengers planning to fly into or out of northern England or Scotland this week, the most important steps are to check flight status regularly, ensure contact details are up to date in airline bookings and allow extra time for journeys to the airport, given the risk of road closures and public transport delays. Booking flexible tickets where possible and keeping accommodation and ground transport plans adaptable can also help mitigate the impact of last-minute schedule changes.

Travel industry observers note that airlines have become increasingly proactive in adjusting schedules ahead of major storms, sometimes cancelling or consolidating flights in advance to avoid last-minute chaos. Emirates, for instance, has already cancelled a series of US-bound services in response to a separate winter storm system affecting North America this week, illustrating a broader strategy of pre-emptive adjustments when severe weather is forecast.

For those already on the move, or due to travel soon, Tuesday’s Emirates diversion is a reminder that diversions and go-arounds, while unsettling, are a planned and routine part of aviation safety. The priority is always a safe landing at a suitable airport, even if that means an unexpected arrival in a different city before the journey home can be completed.

Storm Chandra and the Question of Future Resilience

The events surrounding EK35’s diversion come at a time when the UK is facing searching questions about its resilience to increasingly frequent and intense storms. Local leaders in flood-hit regions have called for greater investment in drainage, coastal defences and rail and road infrastructure, arguing that current systems are struggling to cope with the cumulative impact of repeated severe weather episodes.

In aviation, the focus is on maintaining the capacity and flexibility of key regional airports to accept diversions, manage disrupted schedules and protect passenger welfare during prolonged weather events. Edinburgh, Newcastle and other regional hubs play an important role in this ecosystem, offering alternate runways, additional gates and redundancy in the system when London’s airports or specific regions come under pressure.

For international carriers and travellers alike, Tuesday’s incident offers a snapshot of how that network operates under stress: an aircraft unable to land as planned, a rapid and safe diversion to an alternate airport, and a coordinated response on the ground to minimise knock-on effects. While Storm Chandra has clearly underlined the vulnerability of the UK’s transport system to extreme weather, it has also showcased the depth of emergency planning that underpins modern air travel.

As meteorologists and policymakers look ahead to the rest of the winter and beyond, the EK35 diversion will likely sit within a wider discussion about infrastructure investment, climate resilience and the balance between maintaining connectivity and operating conservatively when the weather turns hostile. For now, the safe arrival of the Emirates flight in Edinburgh stands as a case study in how that balance can be achieved in practice.