British Airways flight descends 27,000ft after technical issue

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 8 Oct, 15:37 · Archive

A British Airways flight from London to Chicago declared a mid-air emergency and descended 27,000ft after a technical issue triggered oxygen masks.

British Airways flight BA295 experienced a technical issue whilst flying from London Heathrow to Chicago on 5 October, triggering an emergency descent and prompting the aircraft to return to London. The plane had reached a cruising altitude of 37,000ft when oxygen masks deployed throughout the cabin without warning. The aircraft then descended sharply to 9,000ft.

Passenger Scott Tanner, 39, from Torbay, Devon, described the incident to media. He said an automated announcement instructed passengers to don oxygen masks immediately. For approximately 10 minutes afterwards, there was no further communication from the flight deck, creating what Tanner described as a disconcerting silence, although he noted that passengers remained calm throughout.

Once the aircraft descended below 10,000ft, passengers were told they could remove their masks. The captain then informed them the flight would return to Heathrow. Because the aircraft was carrying fuel for the transatlantic journey, it circled for several hours to burn off excess fuel before landing back in London after five hours airborne. No injuries or further details about the technical fault have been reported.

How it is being reported

• British Airways passenger describes scary moment London flight dropped 28,000ft 'without warning'A British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Chicago was forced to descend 28,000ft in minutes, with oxygen masks deploying throughout the cabinMyLondon · 8 Oct, 14:53
• British Airways flight drops 27,000ft as oxygen masks fall and cabin goes 'silent'British Airways flight BA295 returned to Heathrow after a technical issue triggered oxygen masks and a 27,000ft descent on its Chicago service.This Is Local London · 8 Oct, 14:47

In this story: British Airways · London Heathrow · Chicago · Scott Tanner · Torbay

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