A British Airways flight en route from New York-JFK to London-Gatwick was diverted to St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, after one of its pilots became incapacitated during the flight. The incident occurred on March 14, 2024, forcing the Boeing 777-200ER, flight number BA 2272, to make an unexpected stop to ensure the safety and well-being of the crew and passengers on board.
The flight, which had departed New York at 21:54, was initially scheduled for a seven-hour and 50-minute journey to London, with an expected arrival time of 08:05 the following morning. However, approximately three hours into the flight, while cruising at 40,000 feet and about 440 nautical miles northeast of St. John’s, the crew declared a medical emergency due to one of the flight crew members being unable to fulfill their duties.
The decision to divert the flight was made in coordination with air traffic controllers in Canada. The aircraft subsequently exited its designated oceanic airway, turning back towards St. John’s International Airport, where it landed safely at around 02:00 on March 15, 2024 – roughly 80 minutes after the emergency declaration.
The Canadian Transportation Safety Board released a statement confirming that a flight crew member had contacted the Gander Air Control Center to declare the medical emergency, resulting in the flight’s diversion to St. John’s. The aircraft landed without further incident, with paramedics ready to assist upon arrival.
The Boeing 777-200ER involved in the incident, registered as G-VIIP and part of British Airways’ 43-strong fleet, remained grounded in St. John’s for 36 hours before resuming its journey to Gatwick on March 16, 2024. The flight back to its base airport took four hours and 18 minutes. Following the incident, the aircraft has successfully completed several rotations, including flights to Tampa, Bridgetown, and Orlando.
Passengers affected by the diversion were accommodated on another British Airways Boeing 777, registered as G-YMMJ, which was promptly dispatched from New York-JFK to St. John’s as flight BA9156. This aircraft continued the transatlantic leg, safely transporting passengers to London-Heathrow, where they arrived at 20:57 on March 15, 2024.
This incident highlights the importance of quick decision-making and coordination among flight crews and air traffic control in response to unforeseen medical emergencies. The safety of all onboard was prioritized, resulting in a successful diversion and landing.
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com,saharareporters.com
