BA 747 (BA107) ex LHR, currently in hold over Kent

[Twitcher]

Probably nothing as usual, but..

https://twitter.com/Kent_999s/status/543034284358242304

[SpringHeeledJack]

The link states that a loud bang was heard, might this indicate a compressor stall in one of the engines that was contained and required a leisurely return to base ? Glad to see that it landed and all safe and well.

[SpringHeeledJack]

All you needed to know, but probably didn't want to know…Daily Mail style. (No schoolchildren were hurt in this event). :8

British Airways flight from London to Dubai forced to return to Heathrow | Daily Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2870200/Witnesses-hear-loud-bang-overhead-British-Airways-flight-London-Dubai-forced-return-Heathrow-problems-landing-gear.html)

[DaveReidUK]

Interesting holding technique:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/12/11/23F9DE9800000578-0-image-a-26_1418310230382.jpg

"The plane flew in triangle formations over south-east London and Kent for more than 30 minutes", according to the DM. :ugh:

Not a great ad for FlightRadar24, either ...

[WASPERNATOR]

I know you can chuck the 744 around a bit, but how DID they make those amazing turns? ;)

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

They didn't! As suggested by Dave Reid, it's a problem with FR.

[DaveReidUK]

They didn't!Indeed not.

http://www.avgen.co.uk/BAW107.jpg

[Hotel Tango]

HD, did you not notice WASPERNATOR's wink at the end? That would tell me it was said tongue-in-cheek old boy. ;)

[WASPERNATOR]

Thank you, indeed Heathrow Director failed to identify me as a winker..;)

[ShyTorque]

Obviously, the pilot was either lost or drunk...or maybe a wasp up his trouser leg.

[BOAC]

Is that what a 'waspernator' is then?

[togsdragracing]

In a situation such as this, is there pre-existing airspace into which troubled aircraft are sent, or is it a case of what airspace is free at the time?

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

It's usually just mixed in with everything else.

[chevvron]

A triangular hold indicates a comms failure; left hand total (ie nothing LEFT) and right hand Tx only.
Could it not have been a tyre burst? I've heard one or two and it makes a helluva bang.

[DaveReidUK]

After its return to LHR, the aircraft in question operated the 8pm departure to JFK (due back in a couple of hours time), so whatever the problem was it didn't take long to resolve.

Perhaps they just needed to take the gear pins out. :O