EXCLUSIVE Two British Airways flights from the US to London must make emergency landings within days after passengers complained of SMOKE and ‘burning smell’
Two British Airways transatlantic flights had to make emergency landings after passengers complained of smoke and a burning smell emanating from seats in the business class section, MailOnline can reveal.
In the first incident, on Feb. 1, attendants on BA216 from Washington Dulles Airport to London had to spray a fire extinguisher on two seats when concerned passengers reported a pungent smell of fire just minutes into the eight-hour flight to the UK.
The captain then declared an emergency to air traffic controllers and the aircraft landed in Halifax, Canada.
All passengers disembarked the aircraft normally while firefighters inspected the seating area.
Footage shared by a passenger on the flight showed fire crews moving through the cabin.
John Paul Bayfield posted a video of flight attendants carrying oxygen tanks on board the flight
In the first incident, on Feb. 1, attendants on BA216 from Washington Dulles Airport to London had to spray a fire extinguisher on two seats
Two British Airways transatlantic flights had to make emergency landings after passengers complained of smoke and a burning smell emanating from seats in the business class section
John Paul Bayfield posted the clip of servants with oxygen tanks on board and wrote, “BA216 emergency landing in Halifax. Firefighters move around the cabin with FLIR. All safe. Crew excellent.’
A Canadian Transport Safety Board report found that the crew had used a halon fire extinguisher on a seat in the business class section.
According to the report, passengers had complained of a pungent burning smell, even though there was no visible smoke around the seats that folded down to beds.
The BA flight crew declared a so-called pan pan emergency, which in aviation terms means that the situation is not life-threatening, but urgent assistance is required.
Nine days later, on February 10, another Boeing Dreamliner was involved in a smoke incident, also in business class.
Passengers on the flight from Boston to Heathrow had told flight attendants they could smell smoke coming from seat 12A.
The flight was across the Atlantic Ocean and 600 miles from the nearest airport when it was decided to divert to St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada.
It landed nearly two hours later and the 106 passengers and crew were taken to the terminal while firefighters carried out an inspection.
An inspection of the seating area, in-flight entertainment and units and overhead panels failed to find any source of the burning smell
A Canadian Transport Safety Board report found that the crew had used a halon fire extinguisher on a seat in the business class section
The captain then declared an emergency to air traffic controllers and the aircraft landed in Halifax, Canada
Two clerks were taken to hospital for a check-up after inhaling fumes while trying to determine the source of the stench.
The Canadian Transport Safety Board reported that two of the crew members were taken to hospital as a precaution after inhaling fumes and were later released after being checked.
An inspection of the seating area, in-flight entertainment and units and overhead panels failed to find any source of the burning smell.
In recent years, many of the smoke incidents on international flights are due to lithium batteries catching fire.
A British Airways spokesperson said: “Both flights have been diverted as a precautionary measure due to technical issues and have landed normally. We apologized to our customers for the disruption to their journey and got them back on the road as quickly as possible. Safety is always our top priority.’
