A British Airways flight from London to Chicago returned to Heathrow Airport after suffering a technical problem over Ireland.
The Boeing 777 was flying at an altitude of about 11,400 metres above Ireland when it suddenly began descending, causing oxygen mask compartments to open in the cabin, according to news outlet Blikk.
The technical issue arose approximately one hour after departure. The captain initiated a swift descent to bring the aircraft below 3,000 metres, declared emergency code 7700, and turned the jet back towards England.
During the incident, several passengers experienced turbulence, followed shortly by the deployment of the oxygen masks, which caused some inconvenience on board. Passengers said that despite the sudden turn of events, there was no panic inside the aircraft.
One passenger explained that he and his female companion had to move to another seating area where masks were available. However, before they could use them, the captain announced that the aircraft had already descended below 3,000 metres, making oxygen masks unnecessary.
The passenger commended the flight crew, saying the pilots handled the situation well and that the rapid descent felt almost unnoticeable.
Standard emergency procedures
Descending below 3,000 metres and issuing transponder code 7700 is standard emergency protocol when an aircraft suffers a loss of cabin air pressure. At lower altitudes, atmospheric pressure is sufficient for passengers to breathe without emergency oxygen apparatus.
British Airways confirmed that the flight crew followed correct procedures throughout the incident and that the aircraft landed safely. The airline did not specify the exact cause of the technical issue, stating only that the crew managed the situation properly.
Transatlantic flight details
British Airways is the flag carrier of the United Kingdom, operating international service from its primary hub at London Heathrow Airport. The Boeing 777 is a twin-engine wide-body jet frequently deployed on transatlantic routes between Europe and North America.
Related aviation security incident
The emergency turnback comes after a separate mid-air security crisis recorded on the morning of September 30 involving a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. During that flight, an emergency landing was made at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia after a hijacking signal was transmitted.
The co-pilot on the flydubai flight attacked the captain and attempted to gain control of the aircraft. Media reports later identified the suspect as Omani citizen Hamam al-Hammami, who was previously suspended from flying in Oman over suspected extremist views.
