Post by Don Gieseke on Jan 10, 2012 9:23:08 GMT -6
BA confirms emergency landing after pilots become 'unwell'
By Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY
An unusual British Airways flight is in the news after U.K. media picked up on the story over the weekend. The story centers on a BA flight that had to return to London Heathrow after both the pilots became "unwell" and "light-headed."
The London Guardian says the Glasgow-bound flight returned to London about 20 minutes after takeoff for an emergency landing. That came after pilots of the flight made a "panicked" call to the cabin crew asking for assistance in the cockpit, according to various media reports.
"Approximately 20 minutes into the flight, a very abrupt and panicked message came over the PA from the pilot, saying, 'Senior flight attendant to the flight deck,' " an unnamed passenger from the flight is quoted as saying to The Daily Record of Glasgow.
The passenger's comments apparently were made last month on a pilot-oriented website before they were picked up by the U.K. newspapers.
The Daily Mail of London says that with the attendants' help, "the captain and first officer had to put on oxygen masks as the aircraft, which had just taken off from Heathrow, was climbing at 20,000 feet."
The incident aboard the Airbus A321 jet happened Dec. 20, but was picked up by mainstream British media over the weekend.
Passengers on the flight apparently were initially told that the emergency landing was due to a mechanical issue.
However, a spokesman for British Airways confirms to The Telegraph of London the pilots had become "unwell" on the flight in question.
In its Sunday story on the incident, the Telegraph quotes a BA statement as saying:
The pilots reported feeling light headed so, as a precaution and following normal procedure, put on their oxygen masks. Our pilots are highly trained to deal with such circumstances. The aircraft landed safely and customers continued their journey after a short delay.
The BBC says the incident is now being investigated by the United Kingdom's Air Accident Investigation Branch.
By Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY
An unusual British Airways flight is in the news after U.K. media picked up on the story over the weekend. The story centers on a BA flight that had to return to London Heathrow after both the pilots became "unwell" and "light-headed."
The London Guardian says the Glasgow-bound flight returned to London about 20 minutes after takeoff for an emergency landing. That came after pilots of the flight made a "panicked" call to the cabin crew asking for assistance in the cockpit, according to various media reports.
"Approximately 20 minutes into the flight, a very abrupt and panicked message came over the PA from the pilot, saying, 'Senior flight attendant to the flight deck,' " an unnamed passenger from the flight is quoted as saying to The Daily Record of Glasgow.
The passenger's comments apparently were made last month on a pilot-oriented website before they were picked up by the U.K. newspapers.
The Daily Mail of London says that with the attendants' help, "the captain and first officer had to put on oxygen masks as the aircraft, which had just taken off from Heathrow, was climbing at 20,000 feet."
The incident aboard the Airbus A321 jet happened Dec. 20, but was picked up by mainstream British media over the weekend.
Passengers on the flight apparently were initially told that the emergency landing was due to a mechanical issue.
However, a spokesman for British Airways confirms to The Telegraph of London the pilots had become "unwell" on the flight in question.
In its Sunday story on the incident, the Telegraph quotes a BA statement as saying:
The pilots reported feeling light headed so, as a precaution and following normal procedure, put on their oxygen masks. Our pilots are highly trained to deal with such circumstances. The aircraft landed safely and customers continued their journey after a short delay.
The BBC says the incident is now being investigated by the United Kingdom's Air Accident Investigation Branch.