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JP Smith, mayoral committee member responsible for safety and security for the City of Cape Town, reported on his Facebook page: “Drama Unfolded at Cape Town Airport! This evening, our emergency services were put to the test at Cape Town International Airport. An Airbus A350, nearly 2 hours into its journey to London, radioed in with an emergency due to smoke filling the cockpit. The pilots swiftly turned the British Airways flight 58 plane around and headed back to Cape Town, where the airport’s emergency response teams were ready and waiting.”
A screenshot of the flight path of the British Airways A350 that turned back to Cape Town International Airport. (Screenshot: Anton G van Schoor Facebook)
(Screenshot: Latest Sightings Cape Town Int'l Airport Facebook)
He said City of Cape Town‘s Fire & Rescue was called in to “support the ‘phase 2 emergency response’, with 4 of our major pumps on standby. Fortunately, the pilots were able to shut down the engines and fuel supply after landing on the runway, and the plane was escorted to a parking area where passengers waited to disembark safely.”
Smith added: “Our Fire & Rescue resources will remain on support until the phase 2 emergency is declared complete.”
Facebook group, Latest Sightings Cape Town Int’l Airport, claimed the aircraft had a fuel leak and that the N2 highway, which passes the airport runway, had been temporarily shut down. This could not be confirmed.
Another member of the group reported that the same aircraft had been diverted back to London’s Heathrow Airport on 14 April. This was not confirmed by British Airways. DM
This is a developing story and will be updated.