UPDATE: An Air India flight was forced to divert to London Heathrow after declaring a mid-air emergency on January 8. Flight AI117, traveling from Amritsar, India, encountered severe weather conditions as it approached Birmingham Airport, prompting the crew to issue a “Squawk 7700,” a distress signal indicating a general emergency.
The incident unfolded shortly after the aircraft entered a holding pattern due to heavy snowfall from Storm Goretti, which drastically reduced visibility to below 500 metres. Under these conditions, the pilots deemed a safe landing at Birmingham impossible.
As fuel reserves dwindled to a critical level during the prolonged holding, the flight was rerouted towards London. Air Traffic Control prioritized the aircraft’s approach, enabling a safe landing at Heathrow, where longer runways and advanced landing systems offer heightened safety for emergency situations.
Passengers on board were understandably anxious as the flight diverted. Fortunately, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner landed safely at Heathrow amidst the challenging weather conditions.
Meanwhile, Birmingham Airport announced a complete suspension of all runway operations due to the ongoing severe snowfall, which is forecasted to reach up to 30cm across the region. The airport stated, “Due to heavy snow, runway operations are currently suspended. We will continue to keep our website updated with changes as they happen.”
This disruption has led to numerous flight cancellations and delays for destinations including Paris, Delhi, Geneva, and more. Passengers intending to travel from Birmingham are advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates.
As of 5:10 AM on January 9, Birmingham Airport updated their social media, stating, “Our teams are completing final snow clearance and safety checks on the airfield. Runway operations are still suspended at this time; however, passenger security processing has commenced.”
The airport emphasized that the safety of all employees and customers remains their top priority, apologizing for any inconvenience caused by the ongoing weather-related issues.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing situation, as both Air India and Birmingham Airport work to resolve the impact of the severe weather conditions.
