Emirates flight declares mid-air emergency over UK

The plane failed two landing attempts

The Boeing 777-300 was flying from Dubai to Newcastle and was at the time the most tracked flight in the world on Flightradar24 with over 20,000 people watching it.

The aircraft squawked 7700, meaning to declare a mid-air emergency, following two failed landing attempts at Newcastle Airport.

The plane diverted north of the airport and has just landed at Edinburgh Airport.

It comes as Storm Chandra hits Ireland and the UK bringing intense wind and rain, although Newcastle was not an area under warning by the Met Office.

Flightradar24 initially brought attention to the flight on their X account.

Emirates #EK35, flying from Dubai to Newcastle, has squawked 7700 and appears to be diverting. This after two landing attempts in Newcastle.

Latest Newcastle METAR:
EGNT 271120Z 14018G29KT 110V180 4500 -RA BR BKN010 04/04 Q0986

Track here: https://t.co/4WFXOpw5HQ pic.twitter.com/CmWhYzAr7K

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) January 27, 2026

They wrote: “Emirates #EK35, flying from Dubai to Newcastle, has squawked 7700 and appears to be diverting. This after two landing attempts in Newcastle.”

You can watch the plane attempt to land at Newcastle below at the 03:12:00 mark:

The plane has since landed safely in Edinburgh, although the cause for the mid-air emergency is currently not known.