British Airways London Bound Flight with 777 Diverted Twice

1 tydzień temu

LONDON- A British Airways (BA) flight from Nassau (NAS) to London Heathrow (LHR) was diverted twice, first due to a medical emergency and then because of crew duty time limits. The airline devised an efficient solution to get passengers home without prolonged delays.

The Boeing 777-200, which departed The Bahamas late Tuesday night, first diverted to Gander (YQX) in Canada. Later, it was rerouted again to Keflavík (KEF) in Iceland, where a clever crew swap allowed passengers to finally continue to the UK.

British Airways Flight Diverted Twice

British Airways (BA) Flight BA252, operated by a Boeing 777-200, took off from Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) in Nassau at approximately 10:20 PM local time on April 8, 2025, bound for London Heathrow (LHR).

The 8-hour transatlantic journey proceeded smoothly until about four hours in when a passenger’s medical emergency forced the pilots to reroute.

The aircraft made an abrupt westward turn toward Gander International Airport (YQX) in Newfoundland, Canada, landing to ensure the unwell passenger received urgent hospital care. British Airways (BA) confirmed the diversion prioritized passenger safety.

After the medical situation was resolved, a new challenge emerged. The crew had exceeded their allowable working hours under strict UK and EU Flight Time Limitations (FTL).

These regulations cap aircrew shifts at 13 hours under optimal conditions, dropping to 10 hours for late-night flights like this one.

Factoring in pre-flight preparations, the Nassau to London route already stretched the limit, leaving no margin for delays.

Unlike ultra-long-haul flights with onboard crew rest facilities, this Boeing 777-200 lacked such amenities, halting plans to continue directly to London.

Rather than strand up to 235 passengers in Gander, British Airways devised an innovative workaround.

The Boeing 777-200 departed Gander but set course for Keflavík International Airport in Iceland, a destination within the crew’s remaining legal flight time.

The plane touched down in the early hours of April 9, 2025. Instead of waiting for the original crew to rest, the airline dispatched a rescue Airbus A321 from London Heathrow (LHR) at 4:00 PM on April 9, carrying a fresh crew.

This aircraft reached Keflavík by 5:30 PM local time, enabling the stranded Boeing 777-200 to depart for London later that evening, aiming for a late-night arrival at Heathrow on April 9.

EU Flight Time Limitations

Flight Time Limitations (FTL) are critical safety regulations governing aircrew schedules in the UK and EU.

Designed to prevent fatigue, they restrict work hours based on flight timing and conditions. For late-night departures like BA252, the maximum duty period shrinks to 10 hours, including pre-flight tasks.

This left the crew unable to complete the transatlantic leg post-diversion. On longer routes, aircraft equipped with crew rest compartments allow extended shifts, but the absence of such facilities on this Boeing 777-200 necessitated the stop in Keflavík.

British Airways turned a potential stranding into a swift recovery. After landing in Keflavík, the airline avoided delays by sending an Airbus A321 from London Heathrow with a replacement crew.

This strategic move ensured passengers resumed their journey within hours, rather than days.

The Boeing 777-200, grounded since early Wednesday, was scheduled to depart Keflavík for London Heathrow shortly after the rescue plane’s arrival.

Bottom Line

British Airways efficiently managed a double diversion of Flight BA252 from Nassau to London Heathrow, first for a medical emergency and then due to crew time limits, by deploying an Airbus A321 rescue mission to Keflavík, ensuring passengers reached home on April 9, 2025, with minimal delay.

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