It sounds less dramatic if you say it descended 28k feet, and that they did it intentionally after the problem.
Scary planes stories get 10x clicks this week
I expected better from the guardian
British Airways flight BA295 was bound for Chicago’s O’Hare airport but after a “technical issue” during which oxygen masks were deployed from the ceiling, the plane landed safely back at London Heathrow.
The aircraft, a Boeing 777-200ER, had departed Heathrow at 12.14pm on Monday for its scheduled transatlantic flight, and an hour into the journey had ascended to its cruising altitude of 37,000 feet.
According to passengers, the plane then encountered turbulence moments before the masks dropped, prompting “uncertainty” among those on board.
Pilots descended to below 10,000 feet and issued a 7700 emergency squawk to air traffic control – the international general emergency code – and made a U-turn to head back towards England.
Flight-tracking services showed the aircraft flying in a looping holding pattern over the Bristol Channel between Pembrokeshire and North Devon as the plane burnt off fuel in order to lower its weight, allowing the pilots to make a normal landing just after 5pm.
Passenger Tom Nicholls said there was a “sudden bit of turbulence” before the emergency was declared and that the quick descent to 9,000ft hadn’t been too uncomfortable.
He said: “The plane adjusted but it didn’t feel like it was descending rapidly. I’d say the pilots did a very good job.
Sounds like an emergency descent after issues with cabin pressure, not some calamity resulting in an uncontrolled dive. Really shitty title wording from the Guardian.
https://fr24.com/data/flights/ba295#41fae165
Hope the direct link work
Strange how the other flight that descended a few thousand feet recently didn't have the masks deployed
Descending isn't the trigger for deploying oxygen masks. Losing cabin pressure at altitude is the trigger. The plane in the middle east didn't have a pressurization issue because the copilot appeared to try to dive the plane into the ground.
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