A British Airways flight from London to Chicago declared an emergency after a sudden and steep descent of 28,000 feet over Ireland. The aircraft, BA295, was forced to turn back to Heathrow due to a reported "technical issue" that led to the deployment of oxygen masks from the ceiling.
Flight Details
The Boeing 777-200ER had departed from Heathrow at 12:14 PM on Monday for its scheduled transatlantic flight. An hour into the journey, the plane had reached its cruising altitude of 37,000 feet when it encountered turbulence moments before the oxygen masks were activated. Passengers reported feelings of uncertainty as the situation unfolded.
Emergency Response
In response to the emergency, pilots descended to below 10,000 feet and issued a 7700 emergency squawk to air traffic control, indicating a general emergency. They then made a U-turn to head back to England. Flight-tracking services showed the aircraft flying in a looping holding pattern over the Bristol Channel as it burned off fuel to reduce weight for a safe landing.
