London–Chicago flight declares emergency and returns to Heathrow, TASS reports
In short
A flight travelling from London to Chicago declared a distress signal, Russia's RIA Novosti reported. TASS later reported, citing a source in European Union air traffic control services, that the aircraft landed back at London's Heathrow airport.
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A flight travelling from London to Chicago declared a distress signal, RIA Novosti reported on Monday. The outlet gave no cause for the signal and did not identify the airline, the aircraft or those on board. [ 1 ]
About an hour later, TASS reported that the flight had turned back and landed at London's Heathrow airport. TASS attributed that information to a source in European Union air traffic control services, and did not say whether the landing was routine or whether anyone was hurt. [ 2 ]
Neither report includes confirmation from aviation authorities or the operator, and neither explains why the emergency was declared. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The incident involved a long-haul flight on a major transatlantic route, and Russian state outlets reported it from the first emergency call to the aircraft's return. The available reports give no details on the cause or on those on board, so the significance of the emergency cannot yet be assessed.
Key facts
Still unclear
- Why the aircraft declared a distress signal. Neither document gives a cause or any account of what happened on board.
- The airline, aircraft type and number of people on board. Neither document identifies the operator, the aircraft or the passengers and crew.
- Whether the landing was routine and whether there were any injuries. TASS reports only that the plane landed at Heathrow, citing an unnamed EU air traffic control source; no authority has confirmed details in these documents.