British Airways flight to Belfast diverted due to emergency declaration by pilots

British Airways flight BA1410 departed London Heathrow at 08:05 BST on July 26. About 30 minutes into the flight, the pilots declared an emergency by squawking 7700 (general emergency). The flight circled before being directed to Manchester Airport due to a possible depressurisation issue. The Airbus A319, carrying a maximum of 130 passengers, was met by emergency crews. Passengers were disembarked for checks by British Airways engineers. An alternative aircraft was arranged for the passengers to continue their journeys after a delay of around three hours.

Matthew Hall, managing director for the airport transfers app hoppa, explained that compensation rights for flight delays depend on whether the issue is the airline's fault. UK flights are still protected by laws that safeguard passenger rights. Passengers can claim compensation for delays if certain conditions are met, such as cancellations with less than 14 days notice or delays exceeding specific durations based on flight distances.