In the last few moments, it has emerged that a British Airways Airbus A350 bound for Denver has u-turned over the Atlantic and is returning to London Heathrow.
It is understood that G-XWBH is the Airbus A350-1000 in question operating the flight, with the reason unknown for it’s return.
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Updates: British Airways Flight To Denver Has U-Turned Back to London…
This is a developing story. Updates below as they come in.
UPDATE #1 @ 1807 UK time – As per data from Planespotters, G-XWBH is a three year old Airbus A350-1000 that was delivered to British Airways back in December 2020.
Within their total fleet of 288 aircraft, around 16 account for the A350-1000 variant, and is used on a lot of their long-haul services alongside the competitor, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
UPDATE #2 @ 1809 UK time – BA219 is not far off the Irish coast as the Denver-bound flight continues it’s diversion back to London Heathrow.
UPDATE #3 @ 1810 UK time – BA219 is squawking 6220 currently, so whatever the problem is, it is not deeming the need for the 7700 emergency broadcast.
UPDATE #4 @ 1813 UK time – BA219 is currently cruising at FL370, so pressurisation issues can be ruled out at this stage for the cause of the diversion.
UPDATE #5 @ 1821 UK time – BA219 is overhead Belfast at FL370. Still no indication yet into the reasoning for the return back to London Heathrow, but serious enough to not continue on to Denver.
UPDATE #6 @ 1823 UK time – The British Airways website is showing a 2000 local time departure after it’s diversion has been completed into Heathrow, although this is of course subject to change depending on the nature of the reason.
UPDATE #7 @ 1833 UK time – BA219 is about to track past the Liverpool/Chester area as it continues back to Heathrow. The A350 has been in the air for over three hours so far.
UPDATE #8 @ 1839 UK time – BA219 has begun its descent into London Heathrow following the decision to return back with an unknown issue.
UPDATE #9 @ 1843 UK time – BA219 about to track right overhead Birmingham passing through FL250.
UPDATE #10 @ 1844 UK time – As per @FlightEmergency, understood that BA219 has suffered a hydraulic failure onboard, hence the reason for return.
UPDATE #11 @ 1846 UK time – At this current stage, Runway 09L is in use for approach at Heathrow.
UPDATE #11 @ 1849 UK time – BA219 is passing through FL160 to the north of Oxford as it prepares itself for a 09L arrival.
UPDATE #12 @ 1851 UK time – A bit more information, courtesy of @Shauns_Aviation stating that one of the hydraulic pumps have failed and that no fire crews will be needed on arrival so expected to be a normal landing.
UPDATE #13 @ 1858 UK time – BA219 is now on the downwind leg for the 09s at Heathrow, with this expected to be a long final approach path in due to the hydraulic failure.
UPDATE #14 @ 1902 UK time – BA219 is now on final approach into Heathrow following an ordeal lasting over three and a half hours.
UPDATE #15 @ 1907 UK time – TOUCHDOWN! British Airways flight BA219, originally bound for Denver, has appeared to have landed safely following an hydraulic issue which prompted a return back to London.
UPDATE #16 @ 2026 UK time – AviationSource approached BA for a comment on tonight’s incident and they said the following:
“The aircraft landed safely and customers disembarked as normal. We have apologised to customers for the disruption to their travel plans and will get them on their way as quickly as possible.”
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