A British Airways Boeing 777 200 declared a dramatic “full emergency” due to “toxic fumes” in the cabin and was forced to land at 3.29pm.
Two flights declare mid-air emergencies within a minute at major UK airport
A major UK airport has seen TWO flights have mid-air emergencies within A MINUTE. A British Airways Boeing 777 200 declared a dramatic “full emergency” due to “toxic fumes” in the cabin and was forced to land at 3.29pm.
And an easyJet flight landed at London Gatwick Airport at 3.30pm after declaring a “pan pan” alert following a bird strike, it has also emerged.
The BA flight, flying to Cancun in Mexico, was forced to circle London for 45 minutes while it dumped fuel before being allowed to land safely at the airport, which is situated in the capital city.
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Passengers and air stewards required medical attention on landing due to exposure to the mystery fumes, according to the Sun newspaper.
BA told The Sun: “The aircraft landed safely at Gatwick after our pilots identified a technical issue. Customers disembarked normally and we’ve apologised for the disruption to their travel plans.”
EasyJet told The Sun newspaper: “Flight EZY8520 from Funchal to London Gatwick on 15 July requested a priority landing into London Gatwick. The aircraft landed normally was met by emergency services in line with procedures, purely as a precaution.
“The safety of our customers and crew is easyJet’s highest priority and easyJet operates its fleet of aircraft in strict compliance with all manufacturers’ guidelines.”
A PAN alert is a standard international radio urgency signal used by pilots and mariners to indicate a non-life-threatening emergency that still requires attention.
The PAN call is one level below a Mayday call, indicating a serious but not immediate threat. Such situations include total engine failure, fire, or any accident that jeopardises the safety and integrity of the aircraft.
As standard practice in aviation and maritime radio communication, the calls are repeated to ensure clarity, immediate recognition, and reduce the risk of miscommunication, according to aviation experts.