Wizz Air flight from Poland to London forced to divert due to ‘technical issue'
Flight WUK1KM from Poznań–Ławica Henryk Wieniawski Airport to London Luton Airport on Sunday 20 July landed in Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport following a 'technical issue'.
More than 200 passengers were evacuated as emergency services, including ambulances, fire trucks and a medical helicopter, attended the scene, according to local media.
No casualties were reported and pilots were assessed as medically fit to fly.
The Airbus A321 departed Poland at 11.35am on Sunday, touching down in the Netherlands just 20 minutes later. It finally arrived at its final destination of London Luton at 9.12pm that evening, over nine hours later.
Wizz Air did not respond to requests from The Independent regarding the reason behind the incident, stating investigations were 'ongoing'.
In a statement, they said: 'We can confirm that flight WUK1KM from Poznan Airport to London Luton Airport was safely diverted to Amsterdam due to a technical issue.
'As a recovery plan, Wizz Air immediately sent an aircraft from London Luton Airport to bring the affected passengers to London Luton as soon as possible.
'The safety of our passengers and crew is of utmost priority. We are keeping all affected passengers promptly informed on developments and will be providing Wizz vouchers to all of them.'
The budget carrier was forced to ground an average of 44 planes over the year because of issues with the engines, which are made by US aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney.
It confirmed in June that profits had fallen by 62 per cent to €167.5 million (£141 million).
Despite these challenges, it added that it flew a record 63.4 million passengers and remained optimistic about its capacity to serve more passengers than ever before.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
9 minutes ago
- Reuters
US dollar rises, but on track for weekly drop ahead of Fed, BOJ
NEW YORK, July 25 (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar advanced on Friday, bolstered by solid economic data that suggested the Federal Reserve could take its time in resuming interest rate cuts, while tariff negotiations showed more clarity that eased some uncertainty in the market. The U.S. currency showed little reaction to data showing new orders for key U.S.-manufactured capital goods unexpectedly fell in June while shipments of those products increased moderately. That suggested business spending on equipment slowed considerably in the second quarter. "The dollar regained some ground the past two days, after being on the defensive earlier in the week ... supported mostly by an encouraging set of U.S. economic data that argues for continued patience at the Fed," said Elias Haddad, senior markets strategist at Brown Brothers Harriman in London. The greenback was set for its biggest weekly drop in a month, ahead of more tariff dialogue and central bank meetings next week, while sterling dipped after softer-than-expected British retail sales data. Both the Fed and the Bank of Japan are expected to hold rates steady at next week's policy meetings, but traders are focusing on the subsequent comments to gauge the timing of the next moves. "We see some room for optimism at the (Fed) meeting," wrote BNP Paribas in a research note. "Economic uncertainty associated with trade policy, while not entirely resolved, has declined markedly." Politics is a factor for both central banks, most dramatically in the U.S., where President Donald Trump once again pressed for lower interest rates on Thursday as he locked horns with Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Brown Brothers' Haddad said the Fed's monetary policy is being "overshadowed by the political pressure to lower interest rates. That's one of the reasons why I think the dollar's upside is limited." The dollar managed to recover a touch against the euro late on Thursday, however, after Trump said he did not intend to fire Powell, as he has frequently suggested he could. "The market relief was based on the fact that Trump refrained from calling for Powell to go, although that was based on Trump's view that Powell would 'do the right thing'," said Derek Halpenny, head of EMEA research at MUFG. He added, however, that "the theme of Fed independence being undermined by the White House will unlikely go away and remains a downside risk for the dollar." Falls against the euro and yen leave the dollar index , which measures the dollar against six other currencies, at 97.45, on track for a drop of 0.8% this week, its weakest performance in a month, though it bounced back 0.2% to 97.663 on Friday. Meanwhile, in Japan, though the trade deal signed with the U.S. this week could make it easier for the BOJ to continue rate hikes, the bruising loss for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's coalition in upper house elections on Sunday complicates life for the BOJ. The yen was softer, thanks in part to below-expectations Tokyo inflation data, with the dollar last up 0.4% at 147.59 yen, though on course for a weekly 0.9% fall , the lowest since June 23. The euro was flat at $1.1741 , but set for a weekly gain of nearly 1%, its best showing in a month. The common currency took some support Thursday from the European Central Bank meeting. Policymakers left the policy rate at 2%, as expected, but the bank's relatively upbeat assessment of the economic outlook and signs that an EU-U.S. trade deal is near caused investors to reassess previous assumptions of one more rate cut this year. In contrast, soft British data is supporting expectations of more Bank of England rate cuts, and causing euro zone bond yields to rise faster than British ones, supporting the euro against the pound. The euro rose to 87.43 pence versus sterling on Friday, its highest since April, building on a 0.44% gain the previous day. . It was last up 0.4% at 87.42 pence. Data on Friday showed British retail sales data for June came in slightly below analysts' expectations, albeit rebounding from a sharp drop in May. Figures on Thursday showed business activity grew only weakly in July and employers cut jobs at the fastest pace in five months. Against the dollar, the pound fell 0.6% to $1.3434 .
The Sun
9 minutes ago
- The Sun
Thames Water are the latest corporate buffoons doing their utmost to bring my pub to its knees – it's time for revenge
YOU might imagine that staff at the near-bankrupt fish-killing enterprise known as Thames Water would be working round the clock. Ideally doing something about the hosepipe ban, rising bills and the torrent of sewage being pumped into the region's rivers every day. 6 6 Apparently not. A couple of weeks ago, two Thames Water inspectors arrived at my pub, with two people from the local council, and I assumed they were there to apologise for the woeful pressure, which is so low we have to harvest water overnight and store it in a 6,000-litre tank, because during the day all we get is a dribble. Nope. They were there to make sure I was complying with all their regulations. That seemed odd to me. I am one of their customers. I buy water from them so why should they be interested in what I'm doing with it. I sell beer to people, but I don't go round to their houses to make sure they're drinking it properly. Anyway, they were very thorough, even doing tests on the dog bowl taps we installed in the garden. And now I've received a massive eight-page list of changes they want us to make. It's stupid, petty stuff. Apart from one change they want making to our Rational steam ovens. Which, according to our plumber, would be impossible. Honestly, this is exactly the sort of corporate bullying that pubs really don't need right now. Menacing instruction Debt-ridden Thames Water hit with multi-million pound fine for polluting rivers as firm 'pushed to brink of collapse' One hostelry is closing every single day thanks to problems with mad Net Zero taxes, food allergy enthusiasts, staff shortages and the NI issues caused by Rachel Reeves 's idiotic Budget. And if they're now going to be hectored by water companies to change the flow rate of their taps, there won't be any pubs left at all. And it's not like we can just put the Thames Water missive in the bin because, naturally, it comes with a menacing instruction that everything must be sorted out within 21 days. Or else. Fine. Two can play at that game so here goes: Thames Water. You have 21 days to do the following. Or else. Upgrade the infrastructure so that you're able to supply your customers with a decent round-the-clock supply. Mend all the leaks in the region so the hosepipe ban can be lifted. Stop pumping faeces into our rivers. Undertake to cut bills to consumers by not paying your useless bosses massive bonuses. And know this. While you're getting on with that, we have started work on a bore hole. We're digging a 120ft-deep hole in the pub's garden so that we can pump our water from the massive underground lake down there. Unlike most of the water round these parts, there's no human s**t in it. You can drink it safely with no treatment at all. Also, we can pump it through our taps at whatever rate takes our fancy. And it'll cost us nothing at all. LATEST LECCY SHOCK THE Government recently announced a new scheme, which would give a £3,750 grant to anyone who bought an affordable electric car. They said it would only cost the taxpayer £650million and I'm afraid at that point I burst out laughing. Because I spent about ten seconds with a calculator and worked out that it would, in fact, cost billions. Turns out I was wrong. Because this idea was dreamed up by the Labourites, it doesn't really work. No one knows what cars are eligible for the discount and which ones aren't. Yes, it may have an electric motor, but unless it was built in a factory made from leaves and kale, it doesn't qualify. Salesmen in showrooms are saying the paperwork is ridiculous. It may well be then that no one can access the scheme, which means it'll actually cost the taxpayer nothing at all. ISLE SAY! SO the United Nations has decided that small countries should be allowed to sue bigger countries if they are causing too much global warming. Excellent. Because how hilarious would it be if one of those islands that only exist as an answer on Pointless sues Ed Miliband for not doing enough to save them. Can you imagine his silly little face. He'd be crestfallen. SEE THE LIGHT IN WALES I WATCHED a fascinating primetime BBC1 show this week called Guardian Of The Night. It was about the UK's taxpayer-funded 'dark sky officer' and her mission to turn off all the lights in huge chunks of Wales. Mostly this meant addressing a room full of parish councillor types and Liberal Democrats. Who were onside anyway. Her arguments were certainly amazing. She said that light pollution causes cancer and diabetes. Which is bad news if you live in, I dunno, a town or a city. But then she went on to explain that we need to be able to see the night sky so that we can spot an incoming asteroid. Er. I think if we are relying for our survival on a man called Geoff who uses a home-made observatory in Wales, we've probably had it. But don't worry, we aren't. So if you are reading this in Cardiff, don't worry. You can turn your lights on this evening. It'll make no difference. PHEW! IT'S JEZ 6 JEREMY CORBYN has announced that his new f ar-Left political party doesn't yet have a name. But he says suggestions are coming in from members of the public at the rate of 500 every minute. I bet they are. I bet they are. I must say, however, that I wish him every success. Because he will undoubtedly split the left's vote, thus ensuring that neither he nor that fool Starmer will win the next election. Maybe it should be called the 'Phew' party. HOW MY GREEDY LABS COULD COST ME DEER 6 6 TO try to train guide dogs not to tear off after every rabbit they see, boffins have strapped a toy squirrel to a radio-controlled car. Confused? I was too. But the idea seems sound. You take the trainee dog for a walk and have someone 'drive' the car back and forth so that, eventually, Rover gets used to it and won't yank the blind person's arm off as it sets off at 200mph in pursuit. I may try it with my dogs. They've learned not to chase the farm animals and will even sit quietly when our little army of guinea fowl clucks its way into the garden. But there is nothing I can do to stop them chasing deer. I spend half my life giving it the full 'Fenton' as they whizz about in a hopeless quest to catch something that's way faster than they are. So I shall buy a toy deer and strap it to a radio-controlled car. And see what happens. My only worry is that they're labradors. So if they catch it, they'd eat the toy. And the car as well.
The Sun
9 minutes ago
- The Sun
Heartache for Bayesian yacht victim Mike Lynch's family – estate faces bankruptcy after court demands it hand over £700M
IT was a tragedy that claimed the lives of a billionaire father and his daughter, drowned in a storm at sea. British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch was out celebrating his acquittal from US fraud charges when his £38million yacht Bayesian was knocked sideways by a sudden 80mph gust and started taking in water. 6 6 6 As the boat sank rapidly, his wife Angela Bacares was pulled to safety by a crew member — but Lynch, their 18-year-old daughter Hannah and five others on board never made it out. Now, as the one-year anniversary approaches next month, 58-year-old businesswoman Angela is facing a financial battle. There is the potential of court action by the families of the victims who died on the yacht — and earlier this week, the UK's High Court ruled that her husband's estate owes US tech giant Hewlett-Packard more than £700million relating to fraud claims. The case was brought six years ago by HP after they acquired his company Autonomy in 2011. The firm claimed Lynch and the former chief financial officer had fraudulently inflated its value. While Lynch was facing court action in America, HP was already chasing him through the civil courts in Britain — leading to this week's damages ruling. The High Court ruled that HP had paid a lot more than it would have done 'had Autonomy's true financial position been correctly presented' during the sale. If his estate — which goes to Angela and her remaining daughter Esme, 22 — ends up having to pay, it will almost certainly be bankrupted, leaving no inheritance for the family. It is believed Lynch shielded his wife's personal fortune from the messy court cases. She owned millions of pounds worth of shares held in her name in other family firms. I found doomed Bayesian I saw still haunts me And she made more than £15million from the sale of her shares when Autonomy was taken over. One pal told us: 'Mike wasn't perfect but he wasn't a criminal in any way, shape or form. He had asked various Cabinet ministers and Prime Ministers, including Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson, to help him. 'Rishi and Johnson were more interested in making post- Brexit trade deals than making any trouble on Mike's behalf. 'Rishi and Johnson were more interested in making post-Brexit trade deals than making any trouble on Mike's behalf. 'These cases hung over him for years and he ended up under house arrest in San Francisco unable to leave for months, facing charges that he was ultimately cleared of. 'He helped a lot of people make a lot of money but they assumed he was guilty as charged and then ran a million miles. 'He was abandoned by his peer group and by his government then, when he won his US case, everyone wanted to be his friend again. 'The irony is he had gone out on the Bayesian to celebrate the US court outcome. "It's been one tragedy after another for his family.' The latest damages ruling had been delayed until this week because of the circumstances surrounding the yachting disaster on August 19 last year. The judge expressed his 'sorrow at the devastating turn of events' at sea and offered 'sympathy and deepest condolences'. 'STILL GRIEVING' He even said that he 'admired' Lynch, despite ruling against him. Insiders have told The Sun that the family want to appeal the High Court decision. Our source said: 'It's not just about money, it's about restoring Mike's reputation. "The family are considering their next move but we all know that appealing these sorts of decisions is lengthy and costly. "They are also still grieving their loss.' Lynch created software company Autonomy, which processed people's information and data, in 1996. He sold it to Hewlett-Packard for £8.6billion in 2011. The businessman reportedly netted around £500million from the deal before going on to set up tech investment firm Invoke Capital. Just a year after the mega-bucks deal, HP wrote down Autonomy's value by £6.5billion and brought a £4billion lawsuit against Lynch and ex-finance officer Sushovan Hussain. The allegations that they inflated the value of the company were investigated by the UK Serious Fraud Office too, who found 'insufficient evidence' of wrongdoing — but some aspects of the case were then handed over to US authorities. In 2018, Lynch and Autonomy's former vice-president of finance Stephen Chamberlain were charged with fraud in the US and accused of making false and misleading statements about their company. But both were acquitted following a sensational three-month trial in San Francisco, where Lynch had been extradited to in 2023. If Lynch had been found guilty, he would have faced up to 25 years in prison. 6 He told reporters last year that given his poor health, he would have almost certainly died in jail. The pair were still celebrating their win when Chamberlain, 52, died after being hit by a car while out running near his home in Cambridgeshire. Two days later, the Bayesian sank off the coast of Sicily, claiming the lives of Lynch, Hannah, the vessel's cook Recaldo Thomas, high-profile US lawyer Chris Morvillo, his wife Neda and British banking couple Jonathan and Judy Bloomer. As part of a criminal investigation by Italian authorities, the yacht was raised from the sea bed last month. That inquiry may not conclude until 2027, bringing more heartache for the Lynch family. James Healy-Pratt, a US lawyer representing the family of chef Recaldo, said they would push for compensation from Angela, the crew and yacht management company Camper & Nicholsons. As one of the country's most successful entrepreneurs, Lynch had a life of luxury, enjoying exotic holidays and a £6milliion country mansion in Suffolk, which boasts 2,500 acres. The close family are said to have loved spending time at home, breeding rare livestock, including Suffolk sheep and Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs, which roamed free in the estate's woodland. But the businessman came from humble beginnings. Born to Irish parents — a firefighter father and nurse mother — Lynch won a scholarship to a private school in Essex. Mike worked hard but was very much a family man and wanted to make life as normal for his children as it could be, given the extreme wealth Andrew Kanter He went on to gain a PhD in mathematical computing from Cambridge University. A friend said: 'He really was a genius. "He was just a brilliant mathematician and his life transformed as he built companies. 'He was a very early advocate of artificial intelligence — the very field in which we need expertise in this country.' Long-time friend Andrew Kanter, who was a pallbearer at Lynch's funeral, said: 'He was never happier than when someone asked to see the pigs on his estate. 'Mike worked hard but was very much a family man and wanted to make life as normal for his children as it could be, given the extreme wealth. 'He never let his legal issues get in the way and did everything to make sure his kids grew up untroubled by whatever the world lay at his feet.' 'I truly believe that Mike would have looked at the UK ruling as a good day. "Although the numbers are crazy, even the judge has found that Hewlett-Packard had overstated its claim. 'Mike would have continued to fight this. "He always argued that a law that allows America to extradite British citizens and not have a return agreement was really flawed. 'It's been the case for 15 years and he was going to have that fight too. 'The legal issues weighed heavily on him but he never let it affect his family. 'I never saw him sitting around self-pitying. He wanted to clear his name. 'The loss of Mike is an incalculable loss for technology. 'He was utterly devoted to its growth in Britain.' 6 6
