Three passengers were taken to hospital after several travellers became unwell on a Eurowings flight from Rhodes to Düsseldorf on Sunday evening, 18 October.
The cockpit crew requested priority landing for flight EW9631, an Airbus A321 (D-AIDT) which carried 212 passengers and seven crew members. The aircraft arrived in Düsseldorf at around 22:00, where emergency services were waiting.
Authorities activated a precautionary mass-casualty response because the number of passengers requiring treatment was initially unclear. Ambulances and firefighters attended, although WDR reported that the situation ultimately did not require treatment of large numbers of people.
A passenger told RTL that cabin crew began wearing face masks during the flight. According to her account, medical personnel wearing protective clothing boarded after landing to assess passengers, who remained on the aircraft until approximately 23:30.
Eurowings said three passengers received medical attention and were taken to hospital as a precaution. The cause of their symptoms remains under investigation. Reports suggesting a gastrointestinal infection, including norovirus, have not been officially confirmed.
The airline said the incident did not affect its remaining flight schedule.