On September 5th, flight DY7194 out of Newark Liberty (EWR) was heading to Rome Fumicino (FCO) when it diverted to Gander airport (YQX) due to "technical problems". The flight was sold as a Norwegian flight, but was being operated by Portuguese wet lease operator euroAtlantic.

Most of the small euroAtlantic fleet consists of the Boeing 767. Photo: euroAtlantic

According to a passenger on the flight who wishes to remain anonymous, the Norwegian flight operated by EuroAtlantic Airways using a Boeing 767, left Newark, NJ bound for Rome, Italy at approximately 00:30 hours on September 5th, 2019. Approximately three hours into the flight, the source says that they had to make an emergency landing in Gander, Newfoundland due to “technical problems”, as reported by the captain and crew.

As a result of the issue, the airline had to accommodate the passengers of the flight at local hotels. With most of the entire day of September 5th passed, passengers were informed around 20:00 hours that they were to go back to the airport for the flight onwards to Rome. The flight number onwards to Rome was changed to DY7994 after the emergency landing.

The flight path of DY7194. Photo: FlightRadar24
The flight path of DY7994. Photo: FlightRadar24

Situation 'extremely scary'

According to our source, the situation was extremely scary, with many passengers "freaking out". Apparently, the plane was "rather old and dilapidated inside, and the crew wasn’t very transparent with anyone throughout the process". After the pilot announced that there were technical problems and a subsequent diversion, it is reported that he said the flight would "either land in Gander or the navy would have had to get us".

Upon landing, the aircraft was met by a fire truck and emergency vehicles. Lastly, our source reports that everyone from Gander was "extremely kind and helpful". As the flight was sold as Norwegian, we contacted them for comment. A spokesperson responded saying:

“Due to a technical issue flight DY7194 from Newark to Rome, which was operated by EuroAtlantic on behalf on Norwegian, diverted to Gander International Airport. The aircraft landed normally and passengers were provided with hotel accommodation until an alternative flight could be arranged. We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to our passengers due to this delay.”

About euroAtlantic Airways

According to the airline's website, it first started as Air Zarco in 1993. Shortly after, it took on the trade name Air Madeira for seven years and then took on its current name in May of 2000. Since then it has operated by the name euroAtlantic Airways – Transportes Aéreos S.A.

euroAtlantic Airways identifies itself as a schedule and non-schedule Portuguese International Airline, "operating in the most diverse routes in North Atlantic with air transport license and FAOC to operate into the US and Canada, Caribbean, Central and South Americas, Africa, Middle East, Pacific, Australia and Oceania."

euroAtlantic Airways has six 767-300ER aircraft in its fleet. Photo: euroAtlantic

The airline also provides charter services, wet-lease and ad-hoc flights from "anywhere to several places in Europe and to the rest of the world".

The airline has the following aircraft in its fleet:

  • Six B767-300ER
  • One B777-200ER
  • One B737-800NG
  • And one Cessna Citation CJ3 for Private Executive Flight

Conclusion

Norwegian has had to employ the services of several wet lease airlines recently as it deals with 787 engine problems and the Boeing 737 MAX grounding. Unfortunately, on the same night as this Norwegian wet lease incident, one of Norwegian's Dreamliners was also diverted. The flight was originally going from Los Angeles to Barcelona but had to divert to Dublin.

Have you ever flown euroAtlantic? Are the conditions as bad as our source reports them to be? Let us know by leaving a comment!