The Heathrow to Aberdeen flight was forced to turn back to London after the incident which left passengers ‘fearing the worst’ and pilots breathing through oxygen masks
Passengers on a British Airways (BA) plane were left “terrified” when smoke started to fill up the cockpit mid-flight. The fumes were so dense that the pilots were forced to use oxygen masks.
An emergency was declared and the Heathrow to Aberdeen flight turned back to London. “It was terrifying. Passengers were scared and feared the worst but the pilots were heroes,” a source told the Sun.
“They had to wear oxygen masks because they were not clear what the odour was. They ensured the fumes didn’t spread throughout the cabin.”
“As the plane came in to land the emergency services lined the runway. It was very dramatic.”
BA said normal procedures were followed after what they called “a technical issue” emerged on Saturday night. The Airbus A319 later resumed its flight to Aberdeen.
Last year, a British Airways pilot found himself grounded after allegedly keeping the cockpit door ajar during a transatlantic journey. The aviator reportedly wanted his relatives – who were aboard as passengers – to witness him at the controls whilst piloting the aircraft from Heathrow to New York JFK.
It was claimed his behaviour “alarmed” fellow travellers, with cabin crew raising concerns about the incident with the airline.
Following his suspension, the return service due to touch down at Heathrow on August 8 was scrapped.
Stranded passengers were provided with alternative travel arrangements, with the majority reaching their destination within four hours of their planned arrival time, the PA news agency understands.
The captain has since resumed duties after an inquiry determined there was no security risk. A British Airways representative stated: “Safety and security is our top priority and allegations of this nature are always fully investigated.”
Following the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US in 2001, aviators have been mandated to maintain cockpit doors sealed and secured to block unauthorised entry.
It surfaced earlier this week that an easyJet captain who allegedly wandered through a luxury resort whilst intoxicated and unclothed has been suspended.