Cape Town emergency services responded Wednesday evening when the British Airways Airbus A350 on its way to London returned to Cape Town International Airport due to technical issues during the flight.
The flight, BA58, was in the air for almost two hours when the crew reported smoke in the cockpit.
The pilot decided to turn back as a precautionary measure.
Emergency response teams from the airport and city were placed on standby to assist the aircraft in returning.
The flight landed safely and the customer disembarked successfully. British Airways travelers are given hotel accommodations, and their airlines work to get their journeys back on track.
JP Smith, a mayoral committee member of the City of Cape Town's Safety and Security, provided social media updates. He explained that city fire and rescue teams have been called to assist with “phase 2 emergency response.”
As the aircraft approached the airport, four main fire trucks were placed and ready.
After landing, the aircraft stopped and flight attendants shut down the engine and fuel system. The paramedics accompanied the plane to the designated parking lot, where passengers safely disembarked.
Smith noted that fire and rescue services remain on the scene until the situation officially ends. This response is recognized as being properly coordinated and in line with standard emergency procedures.
Airport and city officials are currently reviewing the event. Research is underway to determine the source of smoke, focusing on maintaining safety standards for passengers, crews and emergency teams.
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) issued this statement yesterday, confirming that an incident involving the British Airways flight occurred at Cape Town International Airport.
“The details surrounding the incident fall within the scope of the airline, but we can see that all standard airport emergency protocols have been activated immediately. The emergency response team supported by all involved stakeholders was quickly deployed in line with established safety procedures to effectively manage the situation and ensure the safety of all involved.
“We continue to work closely with the airlines and related authorities as the issues are being evaluated further.”
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