BA Flight Declares Emergency Over English Channel, Turns Back to Heathrow
A British Airways Boeing 777 bound for Bengaluru has declared a general emergency just after taking off from London Heathrow. The plane is now circling above the English Channel near Eastbourne, preparing to return to Heathrow.
Distress Signal Sparks Alarm
The flight, BA119, squawked the 7700 distress code moments after departure Wednesday afternoon. It then began a rapid descent over the Channel before the pilot made contact with Swanick Air Traffic Control, informing them of the decision to turn back.
Pilot Dumps Fuel in Mid-Air
To safely land, the captain is dumping thousands of gallons of fuel over the sea. The reason for the emergency remains undisclosed, but British Airways confirmed a technical issue prompted the priority landing request.
A BA spokesperson said: “The pilots have requested a priority landing into Heathrow as a precaution due to a technical issue.
About the Aircraft
- Boeing 777 model
- Equipped with two Rolls Royce Trent 895-17 engines
- Engines have logged over 50,000 flight hours
- In service since July 31, 2019
More updates are expected as the situation develops.
