Get you up to speed: Flight to nowhere from London returns to Heathrow after midair circles | News World
A Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 flight VS135 from London Heathrow to Orlando was forced to make a U-turn off the coast of Ireland due to a minor technical issue. The plane returned to Heathrow, landing shortly before 6pm, and the flight was subsequently cancelled.
The flight VS135, which returned to Heathrow after a minor technical issue, saw passengers disembark shortly before 6pm on Monday, 13 July. Virgin Atlantic has assured that its teams are actively contacting all affected customers to facilitate rebooking onto alternative services.
Virgin Atlantic confirmed that Flight VS135 returned to London Heathrow due to a “minor technical issue,” resulting in the cancellation of the flight. The airline stated it is contacting affected customers to arrange alternative bookings and stressed that the “safety and security of our customers and crew is always our top priority.”
What remains unclear — Virgin Atlantic has not specified the nature of the ‘minor technical issue’ or how serious it is, we suspect the issue that prompted the flight’s return to remain secret.
Virgin Atlantic flight from Heathrow to Florida returns after technical issue
A Virgin Atlantic plane bound for Florida from London was forced to make a U-turn after flying around in circles for hours.
Passengers on board the flight VS135 faced a change of plans when their plane to Orlando from Heathrow suddenly turned back.
The pilot steering the Airbus A350 jet for the Atlantic crossing was forced to pull the move off the coast of Ireland yesterday.
Everything appeared to be in order when the plane accelerated from the UK’s busiest airport at about 12.47pm and headed west towards Ireland and the open ocean.
The plane was cruising at 36,000 ft when it suddenly made a sharp turn back towards the Irish coast.
A map shows the Virgin Atlantic Flight VS135’s winding route (Picture: Flightradar24)
It then made six circles off the coast of Dingle before zooming north, where it made one more lap and then headed back towards the UK.
Passengers got off shortly before 6pm when the plane touched down at Heathrow.
Virgin Atlantic has now revealed what happened on board the plane and why it returned.
Speaking to WTX, it said the plane had suffered a ‘minor technical issue.’
The aircraft involved was an Airbus A350 operated by Virgin Atlantic (Picture: GC Images)
Aviation safety protocols mean that pilots will not start a long oceanic crossing if there is even a minor technical or system glitch, according to experts.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: ‘Flight VS135 from London Heathrow to Orlando on Monday, July 13, returned to London Heathrow due to a minor technical issue and was subsequently cancelled.
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