A British Airways service heading to Portugal was forced to abandon its journey and return to Gatwick Airport on Tuesday following the discovery of a cracked window, prompting the crew to declare an emergency and divert over north-western France.
Flight BA2660 had been en route to Faro in the Algarve when the technical issue was identified. According to flight tracking data, the damage was reported near row 3R on the aircraft's right-hand side, with cabin pressure reportedly maintained throughout the incident.
AirNav Radar, a flight data provider, documented the situation in a post on X, noting that "a passenger window is cracked. Flight deck going through checks before deciding were to divert". The aircraft, identified as an Airbus A321-231 with the registration G-EUXD, is a 22-year-old plane with a capacity of 218 seats.
The BA Airbus A321 transmitted the 7700 emergency code, a signal used when aircraft encounter mechanical or technical problems that require immediate attention. The plane subsequently landed safely at its departure airport without further incident.
A British Airways spokesperson confirmed the safe return and explained the circumstances to passengers.
We have apologised to customers for the delay to their journey, and our teams are working hard to get their travel plans back on track,the airline said in a statement.
How aircraft windows are designed for safety
Modern aircraft cabin windows are engineered with multiple protective layers to ensure passenger safety. The outer pane carries the pressure load, while additional panes provide backup and interior protection, meaning that damage to one layer does not necessarily compromise the integrity of the entire window assembly.
Recent incidents involving aircraft windows
This incident follows a series of concerning events involving aircraft windows in recent months. Last week, a separate BA flight bound for Chicago spent five hours circling over the Irish Republic before turning back and landing at London Heathrow, where it had departed. That flight issued an emergency alert, with passengers reporting that oxygen masks deployed in the cabin during periods of turbulence. Tracking data revealed the aircraft rapidly descended from 37,000 feet to 9,000 feet during the incident.
In August, a more serious window-related emergency occurred on a Ryanair flight when Serbian national Ljubisa Karović was partially sucked out of the aircraft through a damaged window, leaving him seriously injured and in shock. Ryanair subsequently stated that the window may have been damaged by a foreign object striking the aircraft during flight.
What happens next
The BA aircraft is expected to undergo a comprehensive inspection to determine the full extent and underlying cause of the reported damage before it returns to service. British Airways has not yet confirmed the specific cause of the window damage on flight BA2660.
