summary
- British Airways flight BA2646 was forced to return to London Gatwick Airport due to exhaust fumes in the cockpit and cabin.
- The aircraft involved was an Airbus A321 registered as G-EUXK and had been inactive for several months prior to the incident.
- This is not the first haze incident British Airways has experienced in October 2023, as well as two other incidents involving British Airways’ Airbus A320 aircraft.
The British Airways Euroflyer Airbus A321, registered as G-EUXK, was forced to return to its departure airport due to exhaust fumes in the cockpit and cabin. A replacement Airbus A321 (G-EUXD registration) was dispatched to take the passengers to their destination at Malta Luqa International Airport (MLA).
Smoke in the cockpit of an A321
According to Flightradar24 data, a BA Euroflyer Airbus A321 operated flight BA2646 from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) to MLA on October 27, 2023. The flight departed LGW at 10:58 local time, more than two hours later than its scheduled departure time. 8:10am. About an hour into the flight, the aircraft began returning to its departure airport while flying over France.
The crew did not call 7700, the general code for in-flight emergencies, during the flight. According to the Aviation Herald, the BA Euroflyer landed at LGW at 12:00 and received emergency services. The captain announced to the passengers that he was turning back due to a smoke stack. A representative for British Airways confirmed to Simple Flying that the aircraft had to be diverted. “It’s a technical problem.”
We apologize for the delay to your trip due to a technical issue with our aircraft.
According to data from Planespotters.net, the aircraft was stored at Glasgow International Airport (GLA) from March to October 2020 before being moved to Madrid-Barajas International Airport (MAD). He remained in the Spanish capital until October 2022, after which he resumed active duty. However, the aircraft was out of action for several months before returning to service on a flight to MLA where the smoke incident occurred. According to a post on Flyertalk, it was damaged in July when it collided with a ground vehicle at Morocco’s Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK). According to Flightradar24’s flight history, the aircraft moved from RAK to MAD in early October 2023, and from there it flew from MAD to LGW on October 25.
Photo: Vytautas Kielatis | Shutterstock
Since the October 27 accident, the plane was back in active service the next day. Two flights were completed on October 28th and October 29th. Meanwhile, Airbus first delivered the A321 to British Airways in August 2007, according to ch-aviation data. The airline transferred the aircraft to LGW-based BA Euroflyer, which took it back from Air Operators. Certificate of Attestation (AOC) he will be issued in December 2022 and March 2023.
British Airways multiple emissions events in October 2023
British Airways suffered at least two other emissions incidents during October 2023. The airline’s Airbus A320 (registered as G-TTOB) received emergency services upon landing at London Heathrow (LHR) on a flight from Barcelona-El Prat Airport (by the then London Ambulance Service). The statement said several doctors and paramedics responded to the plane and were treating three patients at the scene.
Photo: LCV | Shutterstock
On October 12, another British Airways Airbus A320, registered as G-EUUT, was operating flight BA948 from LHR to Munich Airport (MUC) when a crew member reportedly fell ill. Despite being hit by a chimney, they managed to land the plane at its destination airport. Both G-TTOB and G-EUUT resumed operations on October 13 and October 15, respectively, Flightradar24 data shows.
source: flight radar 24, aviation herald, flyer talk, channel airlines