At the last minute, a Gulf Air flight from Bahrain to Kuwait City declared a state of emergency and apparently returned to the airport.
A9C-AC is operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft, but the reason is currently unknown due to an emergency situation.
Latest update: Gulf Air flight from Bahrain to Kuwait declared state of emergency…
This is a developing story. Updated information below.
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Update #1 @ 1929 UK Time – Gulf Air flight GF219 appears to be cruising at FL100 as it continues its return to Bahrain.
Update #2 @ 1930 UK Time – According to data from Planespotters, A9C-AC is a 14-year-old Airbus A320 that was delivered to the airline in October 2009.
Update #3 @ 1931 UK Time – @RadarBoxCom shows U-turn by Gulf Air Flight GF219.
Update #4 @ 1934 UK Time – Flight GF219, originally bound for Kuwait City, is now slowly descending at FL80 in preparation for arrival in Bahrain. It is not yet clear what caused the emergency.
Update #5 @ 1938 UK Time – GF219 appears to be preparing for the downwind leg of the approach to the departure airport, descending at an altitude of 5,000 feet.
Update #6 @ 1939 UK Time – GF219 confirmed on the downwind leg of runway 30R in Bahrain.
Update #7 @ 1943 UK Time – GF219 is on the base leg of runway 30R in Bahrain and landing is imminent. There is no reason behind the emergency call yet.
Update #8 @ 1945 UK Time – GF219 is in the final on runway 30R.
Update #9 @ 1948 UK Time – Touchdown! Gulf Air flight GF219 from Bahrain to Kuwait City appears to have landed safely at its departure airport after receiving an emergency broadcast on number 7700 requesting a U-turn to the base.
Update #10 2/10/23 @ 1340 UK Time – The cause of the emergency was a loss of cabin pressure, which Gulf Air said:
“Gulf Airways flight GF 219 from Bahrain to Kuwait was safely routed to Bahrain International Airport shortly after departure due to a technical issue during the flight and the pilot was instructed to prioritize the safety of all passengers and crew. All 130 passengers were safely re-accommodated on alternate aircraft. ”
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