Lucrezia Ciotti A scheduled flight between Greece and Germany became a medical emergency after several passengers complained of vomiting and diarrhea during the flight. The captain requested a priority landing in Düsseldorf, where ambulances and paramedics in protective suits were ready to meet the plane. Three people were taken to the hospital, where a possible norovirus infection is being investigated.
Eurowings flight: Vomiting and diarrhea outbreak on board: emergency triggered in Düsseldorf
There were moments of concern on Eurowings flight EW-9631 , which departed on Sunday, October 18, 2026, from the Greek island of Rhodes and bound for Düsseldorf, Germany. During the flight, several passengers began to experience vomiting and diarrhea , triggering the onboard alarm.
Faced with the increasing number of cases, the captain requested a priority landing to allow emergency responders to intervene promptly. The Airbus A321-200 was carrying 212 passengers and seven crew members . About a dozen ambulances and medical teams were stationed on the runway at the German airport, some of them wearing protective suits.
The passengers remained on board for approximately 90 minutes while the staff carried out the necessary checks.
Following the operation, three people were reportedly transferred to the hospital as a precaution, while the other passengers returned home. The incident raised the possibility of a norovirus infection, but the cause of the ailments has not yet been determined.
Norovirus suspected on flight from Rhodes: airline begins investigations
Eurowings itself confirmed the incident, reconstructing the emergency in an official statement. " We can confirm that several passengers on Eurowings flight EW9631 from Rhodes to Düsseldorf on October 18, 2026, felt very ill during the flight ," the airline stated, specifying that " the flight crew therefore requested a priority landing at Düsseldorf Airport ." The cause of the illnesses remains unclear, but they may be consistent with a norovirus infection, which is responsible for acute gastroenteritis characterized by vomiting and diarrhea and is particularly contagious.
Suspicions also center on the plane's origin: Rhodes had already been affected by reports of gastrointestinal disorders attributed to the virus. However, no connection has been proven between the previous cases on the island and the incident that occurred during the flight. " The cause of the symptoms is unclear and is being investigated ," Eurowings reiterated, also emphasizing that " the safety and health of our passengers and crew have always been our top priority ." The plane resumed regular services the following day.