British Airways Emergency Diversion from Ghana
A British Airways flight en route to Heathrow from Ghana’s Kotoka International Airport declared a mid-air emergency due to a medical incident on board. Flight BA78 departed at 10:25 p.m. local time on Sunday and activated Squawk 7700—the universal code for a general emergency—while cruising at 38,000 feet.
The crew promptly diverted to the nearest airport, Lyon-Saint Exupéry in France, where the Airbus A350-1000 touched down safely at 5:26 a.m. local time. The aircraft remained on the ground for two hours to refuel before resuming its journey to London Heathrow.
Recent United Airlines Engine Fire Incident
This event follows a separate emergency involving United Airlines Flight 2127, which departed Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for Newark, New Jersey. Air traffic control received reports of a fire in the left engine, prompting the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to return to LAX around 11:20 a.m. local time on March 3.
Smoke billowed from the engine about 40 minutes later while the plane sat on the runway. All 256 passengers and 12 crew members evacuated safely using emergency slides and airstairs, then transferred by bus to the terminal.
United Airlines confirmed one passenger suffered a minor finger cut, with no other injuries reported. The airline worked swiftly to rebook passengers to their destinations.
The Federal Aviation Administration stated: “United Airlines Flight 2127 returned safely to Los Angeles International Airport around 11:20 a.m. local time on Monday, March 2, due to a left engine issue. Passengers deplaned on a taxiway. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner was heading to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. The FAA will investigate. Please contact the airline and airport for additional information.”
