- British Airways flight BA295 declared emergency over Ireland.
- Aircraft experienced sudden 28,000-foot descent over Ireland.
- Transmitted squawk 7700 emergency code to air traffic control.
British Airways flight travelling from London to Chicago declared an emergency while flying over Ireland on Monday after reportedly making a sudden descent of around 28,000 feet, according to flight-tracking data cited by UK media. According to media reports, British Airways Flight BA295, operating from London Heathrow Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, reportedly transmitted the 7700 emergency transponder code while flying over Irish airspace.
The squawk 7700 code is an internationally recognised signal used by aircraft crews to alert air traffic control to a general emergency. The signal allows controllers to immediately identify the aircraft and provide the necessary assistance.
#BA295 from London to Chicago squawking 7700 and descended down to 9000 feet above Ireland. https://t.co/KTkShOpJUh https://t.co/McVLR7XzEA
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) October 5, 2026
Flight makes a U-turn
However, about an hour after take-off, the aircraft had climbed to its cruising altitude of 37,000 feet when it appeared to encounter an issue and was squawking the international aviation signal for a general emergency. Flight-tracking data shows the aircraft initiated a rapid descent, dropping 28,000 feet to an altitude of 9,000 feet within minutes. The nature of the emergency is not yet clear, and a statement from the airline is awaited.
#BA295 continuing to reduce fuel weight in preparation for a return to London-Heathrow. https://t.co/n4Szgf8cJC https://t.co/tnFIFF1ON5
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) October 5, 2026
Later, the flight-tracking site reported that the plane made a U-turn and is now heading back to its origin.
According to aviation news network AIRLIVE, British Airways Flight BA295, operated by a 30-year-old Boeing 777-200ER registered as G-VIIA, departed from London Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5 at 11:50 AM local time for its scheduled 8-hour and 40-minute journey to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
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(With inputs from agencies)