A TUI Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration D-Atuf, performed a series of unusual flights at altitudes reaching 8,000 meters (26,247 feet) in late July, raising questions about a potential technical issue. The flights originated from Dรผsseldorf Airport in Germany and served destinations including Heraklion, Crete; Kos, Greece; Gran Canaria, and Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
The first instance of the higher-altitude flights occurred on July 24. the aircraft arrived in Heraklion at 19:30 local time after departing Dรผsseldorf three hours earlier. A scheduled return flight at 8 p.m. was delayed nearly two hours before the 737 ascended to its maximum altitude of 8,000 meters en route.
Multiple Flights Follow
Subsequent days saw the aircraft continue operating at the elevated altitude on flights to Kos,Gran Canaria,and Palma de Mallorca. During a flight to Gran Canaria, the plane made an unscheduled landing in Faro, Portugal, for reasons currently unknown. After the stop, the flight resumed at the same 8,000-meter altitude. Upon its return, the aircraft landed in Cologne, Germany, instead of its originally scheduled destination of Dรผsseldorf. aeroTELEGRAPH contacted TUI for comment, but the airline declined to provide a statement.
Possible Problem with Air Conditioning
German aviation magazine aeroTELEGRAPH suggests the unusual flight pattern may be linked to a problem with the aircraft’s air conditioning system. This system is critical for maintaining proper cabin pressure and temperature. A malfunction could restrict the 737 to flying at altitudes no higher than approximately 7,000 meters (22,966 feet). The aircraft was last observed flying at a different altitude on July 29,before resuming normal operations at standard cruising altitudes the following day. The Boeing 737-800 is a narrow-body aircraft commonly used for short- and medium-haul routes,and TUI Airlines operates a fleet of these aircraft across Europe.
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