Airlines may soon be asking travellers about their health

Number of medical diversions have increased in recent years

- SIMON CALDER

"We're sincerely sorry for the disruption experienced by flight VS358 customers due to the urgent medical diversion followed by technical inspections of the aircraft.” So said Virgin Atlantic after a recent London Heathrow to Mumbai flight spent two nights on the ground at a small, remote airport.

As always, when medical emergencies happen in flight, the crew are entirely focused on what is best for the unwell passenger. On this occasion, they landed as soon as they could, at Diyarbakir in southeastern Turkey – about 80 miles (128km) north of the Syrian border.

Touching down heavily with enough fuel for five more hours of flight meant engineers had to be summoned to check the Airbus A350 could safely fly again. More than 250 passengers – as well as airline staff – endured a miserable 40 hours before they finally reached Mumbai.

Diversions on compassionate grounds are essential, but expensive and disruptive. We need a debate on the right of a passenger to travel regardless of the impact on fellow travellers.

Medical diversions are becoming more frequent for three reasons:

• The average aircraft size is increasing. The more passengers, the higher the chance one of them will need medical attention