By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-10-05 19:55:53 | Updated at 2026-10-05 21:21:58
2 hours ago
A British Airways flight has been forced into an emergency landing after dropping thousands of feet shortly after take-off.
The Boeing 777-200ER operating flight BA295 to Chicago was forced to declare an emergency and abandon its transatlantic crossing when it plunged dramatically from 37,000 feet to roughly 9,000 feet.
The terrifying ordeal occurred over Irish waters, around 34 minutes into the near-nine-hour flight.
It departed Heathrow Terminal 5 at 11.15am today, bound for Chicago O'Hare.
By 11.50am, the aircraft, which had just reached a cruising altitude of 36,000 feet, suddenly plummeted, reaching just 9,000 feet by 11.57am, according to data from Flightradar24.
Then, at 12.10pm, it executed a sharp U-turn, with flight-tracking data confirming it was being redirected back to its point of origin.
The precise nature of the operational issue that prompted the emergency remains unconfirmed by the carrier.
A British Airways flight has been forced into an emergency landing after dropping thousands of feet in minutes, shortly after take-off (file photo)
Footage online appears to show oxygen masks being deployed for passengers and crew.
When an emergency code is broadcast, air traffic control moves swiftly to clear surrounding airspace and notify ground-based emergency services, ensuring the stricken aircraft can reach the nearest suitable runway without delay.
Such declarations can stem from a range of causes, including mechanical faults, medical incidents aboard, security concerns, or developing situations where the nature of the problem is not immediately clear.
Data from Flightradar24 shows the terrifying trajectory of the plane
FLIGHTRADAR24
The flight, bearing the registration G-VIIA, spent around an hour and a half U-turning and burning fuel over the Bristol Channel, so it was light enough to land.
Flightradar24 imagery placed the jet over Cornwall as it tracked back towards the capital at around 3.10pm.
It ultimately landed back at Heathrow at around 4.02pm.
British Airways said the plane turned around after a "technical issue".
A spokesman 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."
G-VIIA is the oldest plane in British Airways' aircraft fleet, and was delivered to the company almost three decades ago, in July 1997, according to simpleflying.
