Passengers on a transatlantic British Airways flight are currently getting quite the tour across the Atlantic, with some passengers on a three-stop routing…
Continue reading: British Airways 777 Diverts To Gander, Then Keflavik: What A Journey!
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
It’s all timing out. It’s just a bunch of nonsense. They can work a couple of extra hours and get some overtime. It’s not gonna hurt them and it’s certainly not gonna jeopardize the passengers on the aircraft. It’s all a bunch of nonsense Union garbage.
They've sent G-TNEC (A321neo) on a special flight presumably with the new crew on board to cover this. Would probably have been hard to get enough seats for an entire 777 crew on the day of departure!
Funny enough a similar thing happened to me on a BA flight in 2019. Was travelling LHR-JFK on an 777 and diverted to KEF due to one of the entertainment monitors overheating and causing a smell of smoke in the cabin. After around five hours at KEF we were put on an A321 to bring us back to LHR (777 flight wasn't full so we could all squeeze on the 321). I guess it's easiest for them to dispatch A320 family aircraft at the last minute since it's the most common aircraft type in the fleet. More like to have available planes and available crews for that type
Minor point, but I'm not sure the first segment actually is 5th Freedom given that the Cayman Islands are a British Overseas Territory.
Trust me, unions are the last ones who want this, it's not great for the crews either. Crew hours are limited by regulators for obvious safety reasons.
Maximum crew hours are mandated by EASA for safety reasons. It’s not some fast food joint where you work.
If only you can replace crew with something that doesn't get fatigue or needs rest.
Wait, the solution is already there.
Dinosaurs are not happy about it.
Waiting for the alter ego BA apologist to tell you how great it was to Denver.
I’m with Ben on this topic.
Firstly, BA quite rightly prioritised the health and wellbeing of the patient without hesitation.
Secondly, they addressed the legality of the crew’s flying hours to ensure lawful flying.
Thirdly, although inconvenient for the remaining passengers, their safety was not compromised.
Well done BA, a fine example of corporate management addressing the situation successfully.
“Dinosaurs” like you Esk, are such entertainment value, it must be something to do with being a dinosaur of very little brain …. poor darlink.
But Esk, if one failed to sink to your level in this pond without responding, how would get through the day without throwing all your toys out of the pram?
I wonder if any of the passengers asked the folks in Gander for some Cod Au Gratin 🙂
(sorry, huge Come From Away Fan here...)
Let me just repeat the insane AA diversion to DFW was some woman getting hysterical with a "panic attack". Could've been solved with strips and/or whisky.
I feel a lot worse for pax missing important moments in their lives if this turns out to be some self-centered b-word like her.
If you don't like it, there are plenty of airlines in Africa that will bend the rules (or have bendable rules) as you suggest.
For the rest of us, a slippery slope is behind the vast majority of deadly accidents. Zero tolerance it the only thing that works with safety, and we're glad that it's there.
Surprising they flew an A321 almost empty for the replacement crew instead of putting them on one of the afternoon IcelandAir/Easyjet flights from LHR/LGW to KEF.
Crew hours.... I'd prefer the delay. I want my flight with alert, awake and functioning crew that in the case of an emergency are in peak form. Yes, it's a hassle, and sure the odds are low for an accident. If there was a situation after crew hours had timed out, we'd all asking why wasn't the crew altert and able to handle said situation. As for expecting comp from the airline, ah, wasn't their fault, unfortunately just bad luck. Pay the extra $$ for flight delay insurance.
Sending an A321neo just to position the replacement crew? I wonder if they added it to the schedule so some regular passengers might book onto it...
Mary, can you name these ‘African’ airlines you know so much about? Please enlighten us.
No surprise they didn’t divert to any US airport, we are not a welcoming country now.
In cases like that, the person deserves to be held fully liable for all costs, including fuel costs, hotel costs, etc. in addition to receiving a lifetime ban from the airline (and, if the person faked or deliberately had a medical emergency with intent to cause a diversion and gain entry to another country, the person should face the same criminal penalties as any other illegal alien).
My lord. Get over yourself already.
They landed in Gander because it was the nearest, appropriate airport. BA lands about 80 flights a day on US soil.