9 godzin temu
LONDON— A Virgin Atlantic (VS) flight bound for the United States made an unscheduled stop at Manchester Airport (MAN) on July 25, 2025, due to operational complications. The aircraft, operating as Flight VS105 from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), was rerouted mid-flight.
The diversion was prompted by air traffic control (ATC) restrictions affecting aircraft transiting Icelandic airspace. Virgin Atlantic confirmed the landing was necessary for refueling before continuing the journey to Seattle (SEA).
Photo: Clément AlloingVirgin Flight Diverted to Manchester
The flight took off from London Heathrow as scheduled but encountered airspace congestion over Iceland, leading to a longer-than-planned route. To ensure fuel reserves remained within safety margins, the airline elected to land at Manchester (MAN) for refueling.
The aircraft was observed flying at a low altitude over Shaw, Oldham, raising concern among local residents.
One eyewitness noted seeing the landing gear extended mid-flight, a maneuver that is typically uncommon outside final approach phases. This detail, though unusual, was consistent with standard safety protocols during descent preparations for unexpected landings, M.E.N. reported.
Virgin Atlantic issued a formal statement explaining:
The VS105 from London Heathrow to Seattle on 25 July has diverted to Manchester Airport to refuel due to air traffic control restrictions. The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our top priority, and our teams are working hard to ensure our customers can continue on their journey as soon as possible.”
Virgin Atlantic Spokesperson
The aircraft landed safely at Manchester just before 5:00 PM BST, took on fuel, and departed again shortly before 6:00 PM for Seattle (SEA).
The flight was operated by a 1.2-year-old Airbus A330neo, registered as G-VSRB.
Virgin Atlantic emphasized that passenger safety was never compromised. The decision to divert was purely operational and in line with industry safety standards.
Despite the unplanned landing, customers on board VS105 were not required to disembark and faced only a brief delay. The airline has extended apologies for the inconvenience and is reviewing procedures to minimize future disruptions from similar airspace issues.
Photo: FlightRadar24Icelandic Airspace Disruption
The underlying cause of the diversion was traced to ATC system issues in Iceland, which temporarily restricted traffic flow across the North Atlantic corridor.
The disruption led multiple transatlantic flights to alter their flight paths or make technical stops, primarily for refueling.
Authorities later confirmed that the ATC system in Iceland has since been restored, and regular transatlantic traffic is now resuming through the affected region.
Photo: FlightRadar24Similar Incident
On October 23, 2024, Virgin Atlantic (VS) flight VS129, operating from London Heathrow (LHR) to Tampa International Airport (TPA), was forced to turn back shortly after takeoff due to a reported technical issue.
The Airbus A330-300 aircraft, carrying passengers on a transatlantic route to Florida, declared an emergency around 30 minutes after departure and safely returned to its origin airport without injuries.
Emergency Turnback Over Atlantic Airspace
Virgin Atlantic (VS) flight VS129, bound for Tampa (TPA), departed from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) at approximately 2:24 PM UTC—nearly an hour behind schedule.
According to data from FlightRadar24, the flight operated normally for the first 30 minutes. However, while flying westward just before entering the Atlantic Ocean airspace, the aircraft declared an emergency.
Shortly after the emergency declaration, the aircraft rapidly descended to 10,000 feet and made a U-turn back toward Heathrow. Aviation analysts suggest that a sudden drop in altitude of this nature is consistent with suspected cabin pressurization issues, though Virgin Atlantic has only cited a “technical issue” without disclosing specifics.
At approximately 3:46 PM UTC, the aircraft completed a safe priority landing back at LHR, nearly 1 hour and 20 minutes after departure.
Photo: By Riik@mctr – Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=96286190Aircraft Details and Ground Handling
The aircraft involved was an Airbus A330-300, registration G-VGEM, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines. The plane is approximately 13.6 years old and has been part of Virgin Atlantic’s long-haul fleet for several years.
After safely vacating the runway under its own power, the aircraft was met by airport emergency services and a tug vehicle. It was subsequently towed to Terminal 3, where passengers disembarked normally. Firefighter escort and ground crews ensured no additional hazards were present during the tow.
Maintenance staff are now inspecting the aircraft to determine the root cause of the issue.
In an official response to the incident, a Virgin Atlantic spokesperson told Aviation A2Z:
Our flight, the VS129 from London Heathrow to Tampa has returned to Heathrow on a priority landing due to a technical issue. The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our priority and the aircraft landed normally. We would like to apologise to customers for the delay and any inconvenience caused, and we’re working hard to ensure that they can continue their journey as soon as possible.”
Virgin Atlantic Spokesperson told Aviation A2Z
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
Virgin Atlantic Miami to London Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Canada
The post Virgin Atlantic London to Seattle Flight with A330 Diverted to Manchester appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
