NewsWorld newsVirgin AtlanticThe Virgin Atlantic flight departed London on Saturday afternoon and was heading towards Jamaica when one of its engines failed high over the North Atlantic Ocean09:52, 01 Jun 2026A Virgin Atlantic plane bound for Jamaica was forced U-turn over the Atlantic Ocean before landing in Ireland after its engine suddenly failed mid-flight.‌Flight VS165 departed London Heathrow at 4:12pm on Saturday and was almost three hours into the journey when one of its engines shut down in the middle of the North Atlantic crossing.‌The plane, carrying 246 passengers and 13 crew, was bound for Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica, but with hours of open water ahead, crews raced back to Europe after shutting down the problematic engine to prevent further damage.‌This left the dual-engine aircraft flying with reduced performance, with pilots descending from 34,000 feet to a safer single-engine cruise altitude of 20,000 feet as they headed back to Ireland.Air traffic controllers guided the plane towards Shannon Airport on the west coast of Ireland - a key emergency diversion hub for journeys crossing the Atlantic Ocean.‌On the ground, large-scale emergency protocols were put into place. Shannon Airport's Fire and Rescue Service deployed multiple crash tenders along the runway, while the National Ambulance Service, Gardaí, and units from the Clare County Fire and Rescue Service raced to the scene.The Irish Coast Guard was also alerted, and an RNLI lifeboat from the Aran Islands was put on standby in the Atlantic as a precaution, reports AirLive.The plane safely landed on Shannon's Runway at 9:24pm IST, around five hours after it first departed London.Article continues belowEmergency vehicles closely pursued the plane as it made its way towards the runway. Following inspections, it was confirmed that there was no active fire, and the plane was escorted safely to its parking stand.All passengers and crew members disembarked without injuries. Virgin Atlantic then made arrangements for the stranded travellers to board a replacement plane onward to Jamaica.Engineers are currently investigating what exactly caused the engine to fail.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Air travelVirgin Atlantic