A flight from London to Chicago declared an emergency after a sudden and steep descent of ۲۸,۰۰۰ feet over Ireland and was forced to turn back to Britain.
British Airways flight BA۲۹۵ was bound for Chicago’s O’Hare airport but after a “technical issue” during which oxygen masks were deployed from the ceiling, the plane landed safely back at London Heathrow.
The aircraft, a Boeing ۷۷۷-۲۰۰ER, had departed Heathrow at ۱۲.۱۴pm on Monday for its scheduled transatlantic flight, and an hour into the journey had ascended to its cruising altitude of ۳۷,۰۰۰ feet.
According to passengers, the plane then encountered turbulence moments before the masks dropped, prompting “uncertainty” among those on board.
Pilots descended to below ۱۰,۰۰۰ feet and issued a ۷۷۰۰ emergency squawk to air traffic control – the international general emergency code – and made a U-turn to head back towards England.
Flight-tracking services showed the aircraft flying in a looping holding pattern over the Bristol Channel between Pembrokeshire and North Devon as the plane burnt off fuel in order to lower its weight, allowing the pilots to make a normal landing just after ۵pm.
Passenger Tom Nicholls said there was a “sudden bit of turbulence” before the emergency was declared and that the quick descent to ۹,۰۰۰ft hadn’t been too uncomfortable.
He said: “The plane adjusted but it didn’t feel like it was descending rapidly. I’d say the pilots did a very good job.
“The oxygen masks popped out soon after and there was a bit of uncertainty onboard. The couple in front couldn’t get to theirs but by the time they’d found a spare seat with a mask, the captain announced we were below ۱۰,۰۰۰ft so they were not needed.”
A spokesperson for BA said: “The safety of our customers and crew is always our top priority, and the aircraft landed safely after our highly trained pilots returned to Heathrow following a technical issue.
“Customers disembarked the aircraft normally and our teams are working to get their travel plans back on track as quickly as possible.”
Photographs taken by passengers and shared on social media showed oxygen masks dangling from the ceiling as the plane made the return journey.
A rapid descent to below ۱۰,۰۰۰ feet and a ۷۷۰۰ emergency squawk are routinely associated with aircraft experiencing cabin depressurisation but the official cause of the emergency has yet to be confirmed by BA.
The Boeing ۷۷۷-۲۰۰ER is one of BA’s oldest planes in service, having been delivered to the carrier almost ۳۰ years ago – in July ۱۹۹۷. Live streams showed the aircraft making its descent and safe landing back to Heathrow.
Many passengers have been booked on to new flights departing on Tuesday.
