Interesting... Many is the time I've had a phone call from a neighbouring ATCC telling me that such and such a flight is a medical emergency requesting straight in approaches etc. This is often some 30 mins (so +/- 250 miles) before they enter UK airspace, so some 400+ miles before their destination. On one occasion we were told on the phone that the pax had stopped breathing. Some 15 mins later the a/c called requesting a priority approach at LL. When told that 09 was in use (he was coming from the East) and 27 was offered he declined. One can only assume by this stage that it was all too late for this pax. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" /> . .. .My point is that it seems common for some airlines to continue on past many suitable diversion airfields in the interest of getting to the destination airfield ASAP. I accept that the arrangement of the necessary medical assistance is easier there than at an unscheduled stop, but I wonder whether or not cost might also be a factor. Any comments?. . . . <small>[ 25 March 2002, 10:15: Message edited by: eyeinthesky ]</small>