British Airways passengers' fury as nine-hour 'flight to nowhere' turns back mid-air

The Boeing 777, which typically carries much than 300 people, near London connected Tuesday greeting for San Jose successful Costa Rica but ne'er completed the trip

A British Airways formation ended up being a nine-hour trek to obscurity for hundreds of passengers aft the plane, halfway crossed the Atlantic, had to crook backmost owed to a method issue. The Boeing 777, which tin transportation implicit 300 people, was en way from London to San Jose successful Costa Rica connected Tuesday greeting but ne'er completed its journey.

According to Flightradar24, the formation near astir 30 minutes down docket and, aft astir 5 hours into the flight, it made an abrupt U-turn implicit the Atlantic Ocean, returning to Europe. The 5,431-mile travel that usually takes astir 10 hours saw this peculiar formation landing backmost astatine Gatwick Airport astir 9 hours aft departure.

One disgruntled rider shared their acquisition connected societal media: "Flew halfway to Costa Rica and @BritishAirways person decided to crook america astir due to the fact that seemingly each of the h2o has leaked retired of the aircraft."

They continued: "On the mode backmost to London with nary connection of compensation oregon different formation we tin committee erstwhile we land. Mess ! ! ! " The rider besides commented connected the ambiance onboard: "The temper was truthful atrocious connected the level erstwhile it became evident we spent implicit 8 hours flying from Gatwick to Gatwick."

British Airways responded to the incident, telling Business Insider: "We're atrocious for the hold successful our customers' question plans aft their craft experienced a insignificant method issue."

BA added: "Our teams looked aft our customers during the hold and worked hard to get them connected their mode arsenic rapidly arsenic possible."

This wasn't the archetypal lawsuit successful caller months wherever BA passengers person experienced a 'flight to nowhere'. In June, a Boeing 787s was forced to crook astir aft flying 2,300 miles to Newfoundland successful Canada owed to a method issue. It's not antithetic for British Airways flights to instrumentality to a London airdrome hub erstwhile a method occupation is detected, alternatively than continuing to the intended destination.

This is due to the fact that it's simpler and much cost-effective to organise replacement flights and hole the aircraft. The Boeing 777 progressive successful Tuesday's U-turn was backmost successful the aerial the adjacent day, arsenic reported by Flightradar24.