Chaos at 30,000ft: London-bound easyJet plane is forced to make emergency landing after 'bird hit the aircraft' hours after co-pilot faints on another flight

An easyJet plane bound for London had to turn back to Faro and make a reported emergency landing - hours after a co-pilot for the low cost airline fainted en route to Lisbon.

The aircraft with 161 passengers on board is understood to have hit a bird shortly after take-off yesterday afternoon.

Flight tracking information showed it aborted its journey to London Gatwick and landed again at Faro Airport at 5.40pm local time - 44 minutes after leaving.

The incident is understood to have triggered a 'red code' alert at the Algarve airport with emergency response vehicles being mobilised although the plane landed safely.

Witnesses said on social media flight U28538 had been unable to gain altitude and the engines 'sounded very strange'.

It reportedly spent 25 minutes burning fuel over the ocean before landing.

The incident happened hours after a co-pilot on an easyJet plane heading from London to Lisbon with 193 passengers on board reportedly fainted and had to be taken to hospital after arrival.

It was not immediately clear what airport the plane had left from, although it is thought to have been London Luton.

Local reports said the pilot landed the aircraft without any problems and his colleague was attended to by paramedics on the runway before being taken to Lisbon's Santa Maria Hospital.

EasyJet has been approached for comment on both incidents.

Speaking about the pilot reportedly fainiting, retired Portuguese pilot Jose Correia Guedes said on X: 'Incapacitation cases are a plague of modern times.

'In 37 years of activity of TAP I have known only one case. Today it is a rare week that a plane does not make an emergency landing for this reason.

'What's up? I suspect it's extreme fatigue, the worst thing that can happen to an airline pilot.

'It also serves to remember that the idea of the single pilot cockpit leaves a lot to be desired. This is one of the most stressful professions on the planet.'

A Ryanair plane had to make an emergency landing at Faro Airport last December after the pilot fell ill.

The aircraft was heading from London Stansted to Morocco.

The pilot told passengers before landing that he wasn't feeling well and the diversion triggered a 'red alert' at the airport.

A spokesman for Ryanair said at the time: 'This flight from Stansted to Morocco diverted to Faro when one of the pilots became ill.

'The aircraft landed normally, and passengers were transferred to an alternative aircraft operated by another crew before continuing to Morocco.'

Last April a packed easyJet plane heading to Agadir in Morocco from London Gatwick had to divert to Faro.

Local reports at the time said the flight diversion was the result of the pilot suffering an 'indisposition', and led to an identical red alert being activated before the Airbus A320 was landed safely.

EasyJet said in a comment at the time: 'easyJet can confirm that flight EZY6469 from London Gatwick to Agadir on 21 April diverted to Faro due to the First Officer requiring medical assistance.

'The Captain performed a routine landing in accordance with standard operating procedures and the aircraft was met by medical services on arrival in Faro.

'A replacement crew was arranged and passengers have since continued their journey to Agadir. We apologise for any inconvenience experienced due to the diversion and resulting delay.'

'The safety and well-being of its passengers and crew is easyJet's highest priority.'