British Airways flight turns back after emergency signal

British Airways flight BA295 transmitted a general emergency signal and made a steep descent while traveling from London to Chicago on October 5, according to flight-tracking data cited in reports. The aircraft turned back toward London after descending over Ireland, but the reports do not establish whether or where it landed or what prompted the emergency. BA295 departed London Heathrow for Chicago O’Hare at about 11:50 a.m. local time. Flight-tracking accounts indicated that roughly an hour into the journey, after the aircraft had reached about 37,000 feet, it descended to approximately 9,000 feet while over Ireland. The reported change was about 28,000 feet within minutes. The aircraft transmitted transponder code 7700, a general emergency signal used to alert air traffic controllers that a flight may need assistance. The code does not specify the nature of the problem. No cause for the signal or descent was confirmed in the reports, and British Airways had not provided an explanation in the supplied material. Flight-tracking accounts showed the aircraft turning back toward London.