British Airways 787 flight diverts backs to London

BRITISH AIRWAYS BOEING 777-336 G-STBJ (MSN 43703)

A British Airways flight traveling from London, England (LHR/EGLL) to Chennai, India (MAA/ VOMM) made a precautionary return to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on the 15th of June 2025, after experiencing a technical issue on departure.

British Airways confirmed the return followed standard safety procedures. Flight BA35 took off from runway 27R at Heathrow Airport (LHR) at 1:15 PM local time after a short delay. The 11-year-old Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, registered as G-ZBJG, did not continue on its journey due to a technical anomaly detected during flight. According to British Airways, the flight crew opted to return to its origin as a routine precautionary measure.

The airline emphasized that this was not classified as a full emergency landing. Flightradar24 data showed the aircraft performing 11 six-minute patterns over the Strait of Dover before safely touching down on runway 27L one hour thirty-eight minutes after departure.

Upon landing, all passengers and crew disembarked normally. The airline stated that it is actively working to rebook affected passengers and resume operations. Technical teams are currently inspecting the aircraft to assess the issue.

British Airways reiterated its commitment to safety, explaining that returning to the departure airport in response to technical alerts is a standard protocol. The early return allows for immediate maintenance intervention while minimizing passenger inconvenience.

Passengers on board were assisted by ground staff upon arrival, with rebooking and accommodation support provided where necessary. No injuries or emergencies were reported during the event.

Aircraft Information: 

Airline: British Airways

Code: BA/BAW

Aircraft: Boeing 787-8

Registration: G-ZBJG

Serial Number: 38614

Engines: 2 x RR Trent 1000

First Flew: 21/06/2014

Age: 11 Years