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British Airways Flight BA295 Declares Emergency After 28,000‑Foot Descent Over Ireland
British Airways flight BA295, a Boeing 777‑200ER bound for Chicago’s O’Hare airport, declared an emergency after a sudden, steep descent of 28,000 feet over Ireland and returned to London Heathrow. The aircraft departed Heathrow at 12:14 pm on Monday, reached its cruising altitude of 37,000 feet an hour into the flight, and then experienced turbulence just before oxygen masks were deployed from the ceiling. Passengers reported uncertainty as the plane descended below 10,000 feet and the pilots activated a 7700 emergency squawk. The aircraft entered a looping holding pattern over the Bristol Channel while burning off fuel to reduce weight, then landed safely at Heathrow just after 5 pm. Passenger Tom Nicholls said the descent felt manageable and praised the pilots’ handling of the situation. A BA spokesperson confirmed the safety of passengers and crew, noting that the aircraft landed after a technical issue and that travel plans are being restored. Photographs posted by passengers showed oxygen masks hanging from the ceiling during the return. The cause of the emergency has not yet been confirmed by BA. The 777‑200ER, delivered to the airline in July 1997, is one of BA’s oldest aircraft in service. Live streams captured the descent and landing, and many passengers have been rebooked on flights departing Tuesday.