British Airways #BA31 returned to London after 11 hours of flight

British Airways flight #BA31 that departed from London Heathrow to Hong Kong on June 29, 2024, had to return to London due to a mechanical issue after reaching an altitude of 35,000 ft. The Boeing 777-200ER aircraft managed to maintain flight level 34,000 during its return to London and safely landed back at Heathrow Airport more than 11 hours after departure. British Airways cancelled the flight for the day following the incident. The next day, the flight #BA31 was diverted to Budapest due to a medical emergency. Expert opinion: Mechanical issues can occur at any point during a flight, and the safety and well-being of passengers and crew are always the top priority for airlines. In situations like this, it is crucial for the flight crew to make quick and effective decisions to ensure a safe return to the departure airport. Regular maintenance and inspections are essential to prevent such incidents and maintain the overall safety of commercial flights.