Eurowings flight from Rhodes triggers health emergency over suspected norovirus

On the evening of Sunday, October 18, 2026, Eurowings flight EW-9631 traveling from Rhodes to Düsseldorf faced an onboard medical emergency. Carrying 212 passengers and seven crew members, the flight requested priority landing after several passengers began exhibiting gastrointestinal symptoms, including vomiting, suspected to be caused by norovirus. The virus, known as the 'winter vomiting bug,' has reportedly seen an increase in cases on the island of Rhodes since July.

Upon arrival at Düsseldorf Airport, authorities activated a mass casualty response protocol. Medical personnel wearing protective suits entered the aircraft to assess the passengers. Following an inspection, three individuals were transported to the hospital for further treatment. The remaining passengers were permitted to disembark approximately 90 minutes after the aircraft landed. The incident caused significant disruption at the airport, with witnesses describing a large presence of ambulances responding to the scene.