Cape Town’s emergency services were put to the test late on Wednesday evening after an Airbus A350, en route to London, was forced to return to Cape Town International Airport due to an in-flight emergency.
The drama unfolded two hours into the flight when the pilots of British Airways flight BA58 reported smoke filling the cockpit.
The flight crew immediately made the decision to turn the plane around and headed back to the Mother City.
Provided details
JP Smith, the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, provided details of the operation on social media.
‘This evening, our emergency services were put to the test at Cape Town International Airport.
‘An Airbus A350, nearly 2 hours into its journey to London, radioed in with an emergency due to smoke filling the cockpit.
‘The pilots swiftly turned the British Airways flight 58 plane around and headed back to Cape Town, where the airport’s emergency response teams were ready and waiting.
‘City of Cape Town’s Fire & Rescue was called in to support the ‘phase 2 emergency response,’ with 4 of our major pumps on standby.
‘Fortunately, the pilots were able to shutdown the engines and fuel supply after landing on the run way, and the plane was escorted to a parking area where passengers waited to disembark safely.
‘Our Fire & Rescue resources will remain on support until the phase 2 emergency is declared complete.’
As investigations continue into the cause of the smoke, airport authorities and city officials are reviewing the incident to ensure continued safety for both travellers and emergency response teams.
Have you ever been on a flight that has been forced to turn around?
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