LONDON – Passengers bound for Brazil have faced a grueling 48-hour ordeal after British Airways flight BA247 was forced to return to London Heathrow on Saturday following a mid-Atlantic turnaround.
The incident marks the second consecutive day of disruptions for the service to São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport involving the same aircraft, an Airbus A350-1000 (registration G-XWBI).
A Weekend of Setbacks
The saga began on Friday, February 27, when the original flight was grounded at Heathrow. Reports indicate the departure was postponed to the following day due to a suspected technical fault with the long-haul jet.
After nearly 24 hours of waiting, the rescheduled flight finally took to the skies today, Saturday, departing London at 15:40 GMT. However, the relief for passengers was short-lived.
Mid-Atlantic Turnaround
While cruising at 37,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean, approximately three hours into the journey, the flight crew made the decision to abort the mission. Flight tracking data shows the aircraft performing a 180-degree turn and heading back toward the United Kingdom.
Possible Mechanical Issues
While British Airways has not yet confirmed the exact nature of the problem, but we suggest a recurring mechanical issue is the likely culprit, given the aircraft’s history over the last 24 hours.