EasyJet Flight U24429 returned to Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport on 22 August 2025 after a passenger attempted to enter the cockpit shortly after takeoff.
The Airbus A320, registered OE-IJL and also tracked as EJU4429, declared a general emergency using squawk code 7700. The aircraft landed safely 45 minutes after departure, and the passenger was removed by police. No injuries were reported, and the flight later continued to Porto.
What Was EasyJet Flight U24429 Emergency?
EasyJet flight U24429 was a scheduled passenger service from Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS) to Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) in Porto. The flight is also listed under the code EJU4429 in some tracking systems. It was operated by an Airbus A320, registration OE-IJL, a twin-engine aircraft commonly used by EasyJet on short and medium-haul European routes.
The aircraft departed Lyon at approximately 6:34 pm local time on 22 August 2025, already running about one hour behind schedule. Within minutes of takeoff, the flight stopped its climb at 20,000 feet and the crew broadcast squawk 7700.
What Caused the EasyJet Flight U24429 Emergency?
A 26-year-old Portuguese passenger attempted to force his way into the cockpit shortly after takeoff. French police later confirmed that the man was suffering from airsickness and acute psychosis at the time of the incident.
The passenger tried to approach the flight deck while the aircraft was still climbing. Cabin crew members, assisted by nearby passengers, restrained him before he could reach the cockpit door. The cockpit itself was not breached at any point during the flight.
Because the event involved an attempted security breach of the flight deck, the pilots treated it as a general emergency rather than a routine disruption.
How Did the Crew and Pilots Respond?
The flight crew declared a general emergency and squawked code 7700 to alert air traffic control. The pilots stopped the aircraft’s climb at 20,000 feet and turned back toward Lyon instead of continuing to Porto.
Cabin crew and passengers physically restrained the disruptive individual for the remainder of the flight. This coordinated response prevented the situation from escalating and kept the passenger away from the cockpit door until the aircraft landed.
The aircraft touched down safely on runway 35R at Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport at approximately 7:19 pm, about 45 minutes after departure.
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What Happened After the Aircraft Landed?
Emergency crews were on standby when the aircraft landed. The pilots directed the aircraft to a remote stand, where police and medical teams boarded to handle the situation.
Officers took the passenger into custody on arrival. He then underwent a medical examination, which indicated that his behavior resulted from airsickness and delirium linked to acute psychosis. He was subsequently transferred for further medical evaluation.
The remaining passengers and crew were unaffected physically. No injuries were reported among anyone else on board.
Did Passengers Reach Porto?
Yes. EasyJet confirmed that once the disruptive passenger was removed by police, the aircraft continued on to Porto. The airline issued the following statement:
Flight EJU4429 from Lyon to Porto returned to Lyon shortly after takeoff due to the behaviour of a passenger onboard. The flight was met by police on arrival, and once the passenger was removed by police, the flight continued onto Porto.
The delay added significant time to the original schedule, but the remaining travelers completed their journey to Porto the same evening.
What Does Squawk 7700 Mean?
Squawk 7700 is the internationally recognized transponder code for a general emergency. Pilots use this code to alert air traffic control that the aircraft requires immediate priority handling.
| Squawk Code | Meaning |
| 7700 | General emergency |
| 7600 | Radio communication failure |
| 7500 | Unlawful interference (hijacking) |
The 7700 code does not identify the exact cause of the emergency. It functions as a broad alert that allows ground controllers to clear airspace, prepare the runway, and position emergency services before the aircraft arrives. In the case of flight U24429, this code helped ensure that police and medical teams were ready at Lyon before landing.
Why Is Cockpit Security a Priority on Commercial Flights?
Cockpit access on commercial aircraft is restricted for one reason: unauthorized entry can interfere with the pilots and endanger everyone on board. Airlines and regulators enforce several layers of protection, including:
- Reinforced, locked cockpit doors
- Restricted access procedures during flight
- Crew training to identify and respond to threatening behavior
- Coordination protocols between cabin crew and pilots during a security event
On flight U24429, these measures worked as designed. The cockpit door prevented entry, and the crew’s rapid response contained the situation before it could escalate further.
Was Anyone Injured?
No injuries were reported among passengers or crew during the EasyJet flight U24429 emergency. The disruptive passenger was restrained without physical harm to himself or others, and he received a medical examination after being taken into custody. The aircraft sustained no reported damage, and the flight to Porto resumed the same day.
Timeline of EasyJet Flight U24429
- 6:34 pm – Flight U24429 departs Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport, about one hour behind schedule.
- Minutes after takeoff – A 26-year-old passenger attempts to force entry into the cockpit.
- Crew response – Cabin crew and passengers restrain the individual before he reaches the flight deck.
- 20,000 feet – The aircraft stops its climb and squawks 7700, declaring a general emergency.
- Return to Lyon – Pilots turn the aircraft back instead of continuing to Porto.
- 7:19 pm – The aircraft lands safely on runway 35R, 45 minutes after departure.
- On the ground – Police and medical teams meet the aircraft at a remote stand; the passenger is taken into custody.
- Later that evening – The aircraft resumes its journey and continues to Porto with the remaining passengers.
FAQs About EasyJet Flight U24429 Emergency
What happened on EasyJet flight U24429?
A 26-year-old passenger attempted to force his way into the cockpit shortly after the aircraft departed Lyon. Crew members restrained him, and the pilots returned the aircraft to Lyon under a general emergency.
What aircraft operated flight U24429?
An Airbus A320, registration OE-IJL, operated the flight.
Why did the aircraft return to Lyon?
The aircraft returned to Lyon because a passenger attempted to breach the cockpit. The pilots declared a general emergency and prioritized a safe landing at the departure airport.
What does squawk 7700 mean?
Squawk 7700 is the transponder code pilots use to notify air traffic control of a general emergency requiring immediate priority handling.
Was the passenger who caused the incident identified?
French police identified him as a 26-year-old Portuguese national who was found to be suffering from airsickness and acute psychosis.
Did the flight eventually reach Porto?
Yes. After police removed the passenger in Lyon, the aircraft continued its journey and reached Porto the same evening.
Were there any injuries during the incident?
No. EasyJet and French police confirmed that no passengers or crew members were injured during the event.
Conclusion
The EasyJet flight U24429 emergency occurred on 22 August 2025, when a passenger suffering from airsickness and acute psychosis attempted to breach the cockpit of an Airbus A320 shortly after departure from Lyon.
The crew declared a general emergency using squawk 7700, restrained the individual, and returned the aircraft safely to Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport within 45 minutes. Police took the passenger into custody, and the remaining travelers continued to Porto later that day without injury.
Key Takeaways
- EasyJet flight U24429 (EJU4429) returned to Lyon on 22 August 2025 after a cockpit security incident.
- The aircraft was an Airbus A320, registration OE-IJL.
- A 26-year-old Portuguese passenger, suffering from airsickness and acute psychosis, attempted to enter the cockpit.
- The crew declared a general emergency and squawked code 7700.
- The aircraft landed safely on runway 35R at 7:19 pm, 45 minutes after departure.
- No injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
- The flight resumed and reached Porto the same evening after the passenger was removed by police.
