BA Emergency Descent, Mumbai Airport Shift, and Travel News

Airlineshindustantimes.com5 Oct

BA295 Lands Back at Heathrow After 28,000-Feet Emergency Descent

Nearly four hours after flight BA295 rapidly descended 28,000 feet while declaring a general emergency, British Airways on Monday said the aircraft had landed safely at London's Heathrow airport.

The transatlantic British Airways flight, operating from London's Heathrow to Chicago, had issued a squawk 7700 code, used for general emergency, around an hour into the flight. The aircraft had also rapidly descended from 37,000 feet to 9,000 feet, and then taken a U-turn to London again while flying over Irish airspace.

Also Read | 10 times Burj Khalifa, 27 times Eiffel Tower: How deep was British Airways Chicago-London flight's altitude drop

In a statement issued to some UK media outlets, including The Mirror and Daily Mail, British Airways said the aircraft had landed safely after its “highly-trained pilots returned to Heathrow following a technical issue.”

It said that the passengers onboard had disembarked the aircraft “normally” and the airline was “working to get their travel plans back on track as quickly as possible.” “The safety of our customers and crew is always our top priority,” British Airways said.

The Boeing 777-200ER plane had a scheduled flight time of eight hours and 40 minutes to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), PTI news agency reported. It took off from London's Heathrow Airport at around 11.50 am local time, according to flight tracking data.

After takeoff, it started its ascent and reached its cruising altitude of 37,000 feet. However, about an hour into the journey, the flight began a rapid descent, and went from an altitude of 37,000 feet to 9,000 feet, registering a drop of 28,000 feet. The aircraft also issued a squawk 7700 code shortly after beginning its steep descent.

It was then diverted to London, according to data on Flightradar24, and took a U-turn. However, the aircraft kept circling the airspace between Wales and Ireland and then headed towards Heathrow. The circling could be an apparent attempt to dump fuel to reduce its fuel load.

Long-haul aircraft can carry a large amount of fuel for transatlantic journeys, and reducing the fuel load can help bring the aircraft closer to an appropriate landing weight during an early return. After circling multiple times, the flight began its gradual descent and landed in Heathrow after 4 hours and 47 minutes in the air.

Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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Airlinese.vnexpress.net5 Oct

China Eastern Attendant Made to Kneel After Cart Bumped Passenger

A Chinese flight attendant was intimidated into apologizing on her knees after accidentally bumping a passenger's elbow with a food cart. The incident occurred on the night of Sept. 28 aboard a China Eastern Airlines flight from Hefei to Dalian, when the man was sleeping. Though he suffered no injury, she apologized immediately and the purser brought an ice pack for the passenger. But the man refused to accept the apology, berated her, said "let me kick you," and demanded that she accompany him to the hospital after landing.

His aggressive attitude cowed the flight attendant, who it turns out is inexperienced, and she went on her knees two or three times and said sorry, according to Zhang, a passenger who witnessed the incident. The situation was only defused after security officers intervened. After the plane landed, medical personnel boarded the flight, checked the passenger, and said there were no surface wounds or swelling and no further treatment was necessary. The passenger refused the ground staff’s offer to go to hospital and left.

A China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737 pictured in 2025. Photo by Md Shaifuzzaman Ayon / CC BY-SA 4.0 The incident was then trending on Weibo and Sina, China's two most popular social media platforms. Many users criticized the passenger, arguing that his reaction was excessive for a minor bump. "Service jobs also deserve respect," one wrote on Weibo. "Why would someone humiliate another person over such a small incident?" another asked.

A seasoned flight attendant said unexpected incidents like a food cart bumping into passengers are typically handled by the flight crew according to standard procedures. The attendants must apologize directly, and if the situation spirals, the purser intervenes, they said. The purser has the authority to offer compensation to the passenger, including seat upgrades, mileage points, vouchers, or monetary compensation, they said.

If a passenger decides to go on and complain, the involved flight attendants could see a reduction in their performance review scores, they said. "The flight attendant knelt because she was inexperienced and panicked." A female flight attendant kneels to apologize to a passenger aboard a China Eastern Airlines flight on Sept. 28, 2026. Video via Sina Later that day, China Eastern Airlines issued a statement saying the employee was "severely shaken." It provided her with counseling, and she has since returned to work.

It is investigating the incident.

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Placese.vnexpress.net5 Oct

Qatar Ranks Second Safest Country for Tourists Globally

Qatar, which maintains a near-zero violent crime rate thanks to strict laws and severe penalties, has been named the world's 2nd safest country for tourists after Singapore, according to the World Economic Forum's 2026 Travel and Tourism Development Index. Saudi Arabia ranked third, followed by Iceland and Switzerland in the safety and security category, which measures the extent to which a country exposes residents, tourists and businesses to security risks. The rest of top 10 were Finland, Kuwait, Bahrain, Vietnam and Luxembourg.

In contrast, Mexico, Mali and Colombia were ranked the most dangerous countries for tourists. People look at a view of the Doha Skyline from the Corniche, Doha, Qatar, Jan. 11, 2024. Photo by Reuters Qatar remains politically stable, with no significant social unrest. Its geographic location also protects it from major natural disasters, with earthquakes, hurricanes and flooding virtually nonexistent, while sandstorms are proactively managed.

According to industry insiders, Qatar has built a strong reputation as one of the world's safest destinations for travelers. Beyond its low crime rate, the country offers modern infrastructure, reliable public services, high cleanliness standards and welcoming hospitality, allowing visitors to explore with peace of mind. Qatar also ranked second globally on the 2026 Safety Index compiled by Numbeo, the world's largest user-contributed database on cities and countries, after the United Arab Emirates.

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Transportcbsnews.com5 Oct

Metrolink Raises Commuter Rail Fares 14% After 13-Year Freeze

By Updated on: October 5, 2026 / 4:01 PM PDT / CBS LA Add CBS News on Google Metrolink's first fare increases in 13 years took effect on Monday, with one-way ticket prices up 14%. The train service said the price increases reflect several factors, including rising costs, lower post-pandemic ridership, and reduced funding. "Metrolink recognizes that any fare increase affects our customers, and this decision was not made lightly," Metrolink wrote in its announcement.

"After keeping fares unchanged for 13 years, Metrolink is adjusting select prices in response to rising operating and maintenance costs, lower post-pandemic ridership, and declining state and federal funding." Commuters wait for a Metrolink train at Union Station in Los Angeles, California, US, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.

Mark Abramson / Bloomberg via Getty Images Day passes will also go up slightly: Weekday SoCal Day Pass: Going up to $19, compared to $15 in the past Weekday/Holiday SoCal Day Pass: Going up to $12 from $10 The monthly and five-day flex passes will face a slight increase. Metrolink said it calculates the prices for these passes by using one-way ticket fares, adding that "some customers may have a slight increase, no change at all, or a lower price depending on their distance."

The LA Zone Day Pass will remain at $5 regardless of distance, according to Metrolink. It will also keep its everyday discounts for seniors, riders with disabilities and Medicare recipients. Law enforcement can continue to ride for free if they're wearing a Class A uniform. Veterans and active military get 10% off all fares, except for the LA Zone Day Pass. Up to three kids who are 5 years old and younger will still ride for free with an adult. Students and younger riders get 50% off all fares, except for the LA Zone Day Pass.

Metrolink has trains running through most of Southern California, including LA, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties.

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