BA Boeing 777 returns to Heathrow after emergency descent over Ireland
A British Airways flight from Heathrow to Chicago declared an emergency after making a steep descent over Ireland, then returned safely to Heathrow. The diversion disrupted its planned transatlantic journey while the airline investigates a technical issue.
Flight-tracking data showed the Boeing 777-200ER descending from about 37,000ft to around 9,000ft within minutes and transmitting the general emergency code 7700. It landed at Heathrow shortly after 5pm, and passengers disembarked normally. BA has not identified the cause; a cabin-pressure problem was mentioned as one possible reason for such a descent, but has not been confirmed.
- BA flight BA295 returned safely to Heathrow.
- It descended about 28,000ft within minutes over Ireland.
- The cause of the technical issue is unconfirmed.
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British Airways is one of the world's largest airlines, operating regular services from London Heathrow to destinations across the globe. The Boeing 777 is a wide-body aircraft commonly used for long-haul international flights, including routes between the UK and North America.
A BA Boeing 777 carrying passengers from London to Chicago encountered a technical problem whilst flying over Ireland. The crew declared an emergency and the aircraft returned to Heathrow, where it landed safely and passengers disembarked without incident.
The cause of the problem remains under investigation by the airline and aviation authorities. One possibility is a cabin pressure issue, which can require an aircraft to descend rapidly to reach a safer altitude.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “British Airways flight to Chicago declares emergency after ‘dropping 28,000ft in minutes’ while flying over Ireland”.