Overview

• On July 15, a British Airways Boeing 777 declared a full emergency at 3:29 pm after toxic fumes prompted oxygen mask deployment and cockpit windows were opened to clear the cabin air.
• One minute later, easyJet flight EZY8520 from Funchal issued a pan-pan alert following a suspected bird strike and conducted a continuous descent onto a sterile runway.
• Gatwick’s main runway was closed for runway and aircraft inspections, grounding the Cancun service for 24 hours and requiring overnight hotel stays for affected passengers.
• Preliminary inspections have now concluded, both aircraft have returned to service, and the British Airways Cancun flight departed as scheduled this morning.
• Investigations into the source of the cabin fumes are ongoing and both airlines have issued apologies for the disruption to travellers’ plans.