LONDON— British Airways (BA) flight BA295 from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) declared an emergency after rapidly losing around 28,000 feet in altitude.
The Boeing 777 was flying toward the United States when a technical issue forced the crew to abandon the transatlantic journey and begin a return to London.
The aircraft had departed Heathrow at around 12:15 p.m. local time and began its sharp descent roughly 30 minutes later while flying over Ireland.
Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft descending from about 36,000 feet to 9,000 feet within approximately seven minutes, after which it turned back toward the United Kingdom.
British Airways 777 Plunges 28,000 Feet
The sudden altitude change prompted the crew to declare an emergency while the aircraft was over Irish airspace.
Flight-tracking information showed the aircraft using the 7700 emergency transponder code, which alerts air traffic controllers that an aircraft requires immediate assistance.
The aircraft’s rapid descent brought it to around 9,000 feet, significantly below its earlier cruising altitude.
Reports also indicated that oxygen masks were deployed in the cabin during the incident, although British Airways did not publicly identify the specific technical problem that triggered the emergency.
Rather than continuing toward Chicago, the flight reversed course and headed back toward Britain. The decision allowed the crew to manage the technical issue while keeping the aircraft within reach of its departure airport.
Return To Heathrow After Four Hours
After turning around, the Boeing 777 spent around four hours flying over the Bristol Channel. Flight-tracking data showed a prolonged zigzagging pattern as the aircraft remained in the area before returning to Heathrow.
The extended flight back was consistent with the need to reduce fuel before landing. The aircraft eventually returned to London Heathrow at around 5 p.m. local time, completing a safe landing after the unexpected interruption to the Chicago service.
British Airways confirmed that its highly trained pilots returned the aircraft to Heathrow following a technical issue. The airline said the aircraft landed safely and that customers were able to leave the aircraft normally after arrival.
Passenger Travel Impact After Emergency Return
The incident brought the planned London-Chicago journey to an early end, leaving passengers needing alternative travel arrangements. British Airways said its teams were working to get affected customers back on track as quickly as possible.
The return also highlights the operational challenges involved when a long-haul aircraft experiences a technical problem shortly after departure.
Instead of continuing across the Atlantic, the crew safely managed the situation and returned to the airport from which the flight had started.
British Airways has not disclosed the specific nature of the technical issue, and no further details were immediately provided about the aircraft’s subsequent operation.
The safe landing meant that passengers disembarked normally while the airline focused on arranging their onward journeys.
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