British Airways A350-1000 Engine Failure Mid-Atlantic

A British Airways Airbus A350-1000 experienced a temporary engine failure while operating transatlantic flight BA274 from Las Vegas to London Heathrow on February 18–19, 2026, prompting the crew to declare a PAN PAN and initiate an in-flight drift down over the North Atlantic.

The aircraft, registration G-XWBR, was cruising at FL390 approximately 110 nautical miles southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia, when the right-hand Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine lost power. In response, the flight crew declared PAN PAN, indicating an urgent but non-life-threatening situation, and commenced a controlled descent to FL200 in accordance with standard twin-engine performance procedures.

Initial cockpit indications showed the engine 2 master switch remained in the ON position and no immediate fault messages were displayed on the ECAM (Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor). A restart attempt was initially unsuccessful. During troubleshooting, the crew received an ECAM alert indicating “ENG 2 HP FUEL VLV NOT OPEN” and observed that the engine fire switch was protruding.

After consulting with company maintenance control, the crew reseated the engine fire switch. The corrective action allowed the high-pressure fuel valve to open properly, and the Trent XWB engine was successfully restarted. With engine parameters stabilized and systems functioning normally, the crew cancelled the PAN PAN, climbed back to FL390, and continued the flight to London Heathrow.

The aircraft landed safely approximately five hours and 15 minutes later without further incident. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew.

Following the event, the aircraft remained grounded in London for technical inspections and precautionary checks until February 26, 2026, before returning to commercial service. While details of the root cause have not been publicly disclosed, such events typically trigger detailed engineering reviews, including inspection of engine controls, fuel systems, and fire handle mechanisms.

The Airbus A350-1000 is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, one of the most advanced long-haul powerplants in service. In-flight shutdowns remain rare, and modern twin-engine aircraft are certified to safely operate on a single engine if necessary.

The incident underscores the effectiveness of established flight crew procedures, aircraft system redundancies, and coordinated maintenance support in ensuring safe outcomes during mid-air technical irregularities.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, avherald.com