Code 7700 in the air: Emergency on a British Airways flight (VIDEO)

A transatlantic British Airways flight BA295, traveling from London to Chicago, experienced a critical cabin depressurization over the Irish Sea. The crew activated emergency code 7700 and executed an emergency descent from 11 km to 2.7 km in seven minutes. The airliner safely returned to Heathrow after burning off fuel.

A transatlantic British Airways flight BA295, a Boeing 777, traveling from London's Heathrow to Chicago, experienced a sudden cabin depressurization over the Irish Sea. At an altitude of about 11 km, the crew detected a critical loss of pressure, activated the emergency code 7700 on the transponder, and began an emergency descent. In seven minutes, the airliner descended from 11 km to 2.7 km — more than eight kilometers. Oxygen masks automatically dropped in the cabin. After reaching a safe altitude, the aircraft headed for the coast of Wales, where it burned off fuel for four hours to reduce landing weight. The crew also extended the landing gear to speed up the process. The airliner landed safely at Heathrow, and the flight was canceled. Passengers were provided seats on other flights the next day. Representatives of British Airways thanked the crew for their professionalism. The article references The Independent and New York Post, and also cites tweets from aviation trackers.