V-Flyer

My wife told me that she has read in the evening standard that a JFK bound plane had to return to heathrow due to a tech problem.

anyone have any info ???

Yes a flight did return to LHR with a tech problem. There was also a HKG return to HKG a few weeks ago wit a tech problem. Both of these were routine landings NOT emergency landings. An emergency landing is only used when the lives of those onboard are in danger.Maybe the title should be changed to JFK flight returned to LHR.

Modified thread title

My colleagues were on it (VS45). It returned to Heathrow because of instrument failure which was then fixed. A second takeoff was aborted just before wheels up for the same reason. The flight was then cancelled. Unfortunately VS25 (also to NY) was delayed for 2 hours as that aircraft went technical too and was subsequently replaced. Not a good night for going to NY!

Hello,
Just spotted G-VRED fly past my house(8th Dec 15:25) as "Virgin 405" but on the Heathrow departure board as
14:00 VS045Y NEW YORK AIRBORNE 1510 Terminal Three
I suppose this is the flight for those took off the cancelled one?

Nick

Not sure if it could have been the VS45 as it would take more that 15 Mins to dump a tank of fuel which would have needed to be done before landing. Unless it was a dire emergency. If the captain decides to land the A/C with a full tank of fuel the A/C is most likley to suffer damage because of the weight of the fuel on landing. It woould also take more than 15 Mins to get back into the landing path for LHR.

Depends how full the flight was, a JFK flight is obviously a short flight compared with it's design range & to get the aircraft down to MLW might not take too long!!!!

The aircraft was NOT the VRED (yesterday's VS45)

Did the VS45 go tech on the Thurs the 7th?
VRED was VS45Y but the passengers off the VS45 which was cancelled on the 7th of Dec (correct me if i'm wrong)went onto VRED which operated VS45Y on the 8th. Still the normal VS45 on the 8th operated and was a 747.

Nick

VS45 did go tech on Thursday. VS couldn't re-accomodate the majority of passengers same day so had to run an additional service yesterday.

VS145 and VS146 was operated yesterday by G-VRED as previously posted.....

Hi,

From pprune:

NTSB Identification: DCA07WA015

Scheduled 14 CFR Part 121: Air Carrier operation of VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS LTD

Incident occurred Thursday, December 07, 2006 in London, United Kingdom
Aircraft: Boeing 747-4Q8, registration: G-VHOT

On December 7, 2006, a Virgin Atlantic Airways Boeing 747-400, registration G-VHOT, experienced instrument and stick shaker problems after takeoff from London Heathrow Airport. The pilots declared an emergency, dumped fuel, and returned to the airport. The right air data computer was replaced; however, the stick shaker problem occurred again on the subsequent takeoff roll and the takeoff was aborted.

Neil.

Didnt VHOT have to divert to NYC from MIA a few weeks ago due to an engine problem? If so, Tubular Belle is becoming quite unreliable!

Just as a side note, my gf's dad's friend told her that Tubular belle took off from LHR, circled around LHR for 2 hours then landed. It was fixed but when it took off again, the nose wheel collapsed and it skidded across LHR! [:?][ii] Apparently there were fire engines and everything!

She really should work for the sun:D

Didnt VHOT have to divert to NYC from MIA a few weeks ago due to an engine problem? If so, Tubular Belle is becoming quite unreliable!

MIA-LHR flight on 17th November diverted to JFK due to Engine Problems.
After a sleepless night many PAX joined the VS26 to get to LHR.

Lol for the record - the flight was not cancelled, it was delayed 24 hours. Y

You've got to watch the wording for when passengers try and claim EU compensation.

The pax from this flight had to go the next day as by the time all this had gone on all the New York's had departed!