A flight operated by Virgin Atlantic from Los Angeles encountered an emergency situation upon entering British airspace. The crew of the Airbus A350-1000 aircraft signaled a general emergency using Squawk 7700 at an altitude of 39,000 feet due to a severe medical issue involving a passenger onboard.
Following the emergency declaration, the plane swiftly descended towards London Heathrow Airport, reaching its destination at Terminal 3 approximately 10 minutes ahead of schedule. Air traffic control was promptly informed by the pilots, granting the flight priority for landing. Emergency services and ground crews were reportedly prepared for the aircraft’s arrival, although Virgin Atlantic has not issued an official statement regarding the incident.
Virgin Atlantic, the second-largest airline in Britain, operates multiple transatlantic routes connecting London Heathrow with cities such as New York, Orlando, the Caribbean, Delhi, and Johannesburg. The company is based in Crawley, West Sussex, in proximity to Gatwick Airport.
This incident follows a similar emergency situation involving a Jet2 flight traveling from London to Tenerife, where a baby onboard required urgent medical attention. The Jet2 flight, designated as EXS2V, was en route from London Stansted to Tenerife South when air traffic controllers were notified of the infant’s respiratory distress, resulting in a prioritized landing. The aircraft successfully landed ahead of schedule, and medical assistance was coordinated upon arrival.
Spanish air traffic controllers provided updates on the situation, expressing the need for expedited assistance for the baby with respiratory issues. The well-being of the infant was emphasized, although details on whether the baby was transferred to a hospital upon landing were not immediately available.