Dundee Airport has explained why planes were taking off “later than normal” from the city last night.
Staff at the terminal responded after locals queried why aircraft had been taking off later than they are used to on Tuesday evening.
The planes departing the city’s airport were transplant flights delivering vital organs to needy patients across the UK. In total, three planes left from the city.
Taking to Twitter on Tuesday morning, staff at Dundee Airport posted: “Some of you may have heard planes leaving later than normal last night, these planes were ambulance flights taking human organs to various parts of the UK for transplant.
“We never know when these will happen but we always try to accommodate as it is saving people’s lives.”
Some of you may have heard planes leaving later than normal last night, these planes were ambulance flights taking human organs to various parts of the UK for transplant. We never know when these will happen but we always try to accommodate as it is saving peoples lives.
— Dundee Airport (@DNDAirport) November 21, 2018
We don’t take the decision to allow after hours flights lightly, reason for the flight is always looked at and approved based on a number of factors, transplant flights are always high priority. If something happens here after hours there will be a good reason for it.
— Dundee Airport (@DNDAirport) November 21, 2018
Afterwards Dundee Airport manager Derrick Lang said that his staff will go above and beyond to assist when transplant flights are required.
He added: “These flights allow organ donations to be delivered to patients across the UK.
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“Time is of the essence when transporting organs and airport staff will work any additional hours required to ensure these flights can get away as soon as possible.
“We understand the airport can play a part in helping save someone’s life or substantially improving their quality of life.”
An NHS Blood and Transplant spokesman said: “Organs need to be transplanted very quickly into recipients to give them the best outcome and it is sometimes necessary to transport organs by air to get them to the right centre quickly to improve or save the life of someone who needs the organ/organs.
“Organ donation saves lives and we would urge people to sign up to the organ donor register and talk to their families about their choice to be a donor.”
The transport itself is believed to have been carried out by air ambulance provider IAS Medical in conjunction with Polmont-based ABC Ambulance Services.
The firms utilise airports across Scotland, with organs flown to locations across the UK.
IAS Medical says it provides a “door to door service” and works with the NHS, BUPA, the UK Government and other health institutions across the globe.
Organs, tissue and blood samples can be transported at any time of the day using turboprop planes, helicopters and even jets.
The medical transport provider’s website states: “IAS Medical is an approved supplier of aviation services to the United Kingdom Transport for Transplant (UKTFT) and NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) and is an established air ambulance company with years of experience in arranging the transportation of organs for transplant throughout the UK, Ireland and international destinations 24 hours a day 365 days a year.”
The Scottish Ambulance Service said it was not involved in the flights.
Some of you may have heard planes leaving later than normal last night, these planes were ambulance flights taking human organs to various parts of the UK for transplant. We never know when these will happen but we always try to accommodate as it is saving peoples lives.
— Dundee Airport (@DNDAirport) November 21, 2018
