British Airways 777 Diverts After Reported Cabin Depressurization

A British Airways Boeing 777-200ER bound for Chicago returned to London Heathrow on Oct. 5 after a reported cabin depressurization, according to Simple Flying.

The incident

Flight BA259 left London at 12:14 p.m., about an hour behind its 11:10 a.m. schedule. Flightradar24 data cited by Simple Flying shows the aircraft, registered G-VIIA, turned around before crossing the Republic of Ireland.

Turbine Traveller reported on X that the cabin lost pressure while the jet cruised around 36,000 feet. The crew descended to 9,000 feet in seven minutes, a 27,000-foot drop that matches the 777's quick reference handbook for loss of cabin pressure, Simple Flying notes.

The crew set the transponder to squawk 7700, the emergency code air traffic controllers look for.

The return

Because the 777 couldn't dump fuel, it had to burn off weight before landing. The jet spent hours circling over the sea near Wales, then continued to Heathrow.

Simple Flying said it reached out to British Airways for comment and would update its coverage when the carrier responds.

Bottom line: BA259 is returning to Heathrow after hours in the air. If you're tracking the flight, expect a long delay.

• Boeing 777
• British Airways
• cabin depressurization
• Chicago O'Hare
• flight diversion
• London Heathrow