LONDON— British Airways (BA) flight BA289 from London Heathrow (LHR) to Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) encountered an emergency situation and had to return shortly after takeoff on July 14, 2025.
The Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, registered as G-XWBN, had crossed into the North Atlantic when it abruptly reversed direction, successfully landing back at Heathrow.
Flight BA289 departed LHR at 15:40 UTC, destined for Phoenix, Arizona. Approximately an hour and 20 minutes into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 36,000 feet, a technical malfunction was reported.
According to information obtained from ACARS data via airframes.io, the aircraft experienced a surge in Engine No. 2. This situation typically indicates an abnormal airflow within the engine, raising safety and performance concerns that required immediate attention.
The flight crew made the decision to abort the transatlantic journey, executing a controlled descent and proceeding with a safe approach back to London. The plane successfully landed at 18:30 UTC, roughly three hours post-departure.
This incident resulted in significant schedule disruptions for British Airways. The same aircraft was meant to operate the return leg from Phoenix to London (PHX–LHR), now postponed by a day due to the unforeseen return and necessary inspections.
No injuries were reported among passengers, and the landing was executed without further complications. Affected passengers were either rescheduled or accommodated on alternate flights as BA implemented its standard recovery protocols.
An image illustrating this incident is shown below:
Flight and Aircraft Status
The A350-1041 aircraft, just 2.2 years old and registered as G-XWBN, is classified as one of the latest additions to British Airways’ long-haul fleet.
Flight BA289 typically covers a distance of 8,483 kilometers, with an average flight duration exceeding 10 hours. This flight serves as a daily connection between the UK and the southwestern United States, catering to both business and leisure travelers.
The aircraft remains grounded at London Heathrow and is scheduled to operate a flight from London to Phoenix on July 16, 2025, according to FR24 data.
While the airline has not yet issued an official statement, engineering teams are set to perform a comprehensive inspection of the affected Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine. In-flight engine surges are infrequent and handled with the utmost caution to uphold safety standards.
Understanding Engine Surge in Jet Engines
Contrary to what the term “surge” might imply, in the context of jet engines, it signifies a compressor stall — a disruption in the normal airflow through the engine’s compressor.
What Happens During a Surge?
During a surge:
- The compressor may rapidly increase in RPM as it loses aerodynamic stability.
- The engine might generate a loud bang, and a yellow flame may emerge from the exhaust due to an overly rich fuel-air mixture.
- Thrust can dip or fluctuate temporarily.
Recovery and Preventive Measures
If the engine remains unscathed, a surge can often be rectified by:
- Reducing the throttle to decrease pressure behind the compressor.
- Gradually restoring power once the airflow stabilizes.
Modern jet engines utilize FADEC systems (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) to manage surge recovery automatically, regulating fuel flow and preventing repeat surge events, often without pilot intervention.
Similar Incident
An Air India (AI) Airbus A320 operating flight AI2820 from Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) experienced an engine stall shortly after departure on January 5, 2025.
The aircraft, registered as VT-TQE and previously part of the Vistara fleet, successfully returned to Bengaluru despite the emergency without declaring one.
Flight AI2820, scheduled from Bengaluru (BLR) to Delhi (DEL), took off at 7:09 PM local time—over an hour behind schedule. At an altitude of 8,000 feet, the airplane faced an engine stall, typically caused by a compressor stall within the turbofan engine system.
Although no emergency was issued, the flight crew communicated with Air Traffic Control (ATC) and requested a precautionary return. The aircraft entered a holding pattern to burn off fuel and reduce landing weight before landing safely at 8:11 PM IST.
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Based on an article from aviationa2z.com: https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/07/15/british-airways-london-phoenix-flight-with-a350-u-turn/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=british-airways-london-phoenix-flight-with-a350-u-turn
