Cape Town – A British Airways Airbus A350 (flight BA58) bound for London was forced to return to Cape Town International Airport on Wednesday evening due to a technical issue, after smoke was reported in the cockpit.
The flight had been in the air for nearly two hours when the crew turned back as a precaution.
The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, shared an update on social media, saying that Fire & Rescue Services were activated to assist with the “Phase 2 Emergency Response”.
A British Airways flight from Cape Town to London declared an emergency last night.
The plane returned to Cape Town some two hours after takeoff. There was smoke in the cockpit.
Aircraft landed safely. pic.twitter.com/6k8KCNQ1u0
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) April 17, 2025
“Drama unfolded at Cape Town Airport. This evening, our emergency services were put to test… City of Cape Town’s fire and rescue was called in to support the ‘phase 2 emergency response’, with four of our major pumps on standby,” he wrote.
Once the aircraft landed, it came to a complete stop and the flight crew proceeded to shut down the engines and fuel system. Emergency teams then escorted the plane to a designated parking zone, where passengers safely disembarked without any issues.
According to Smith, Fire & Rescue Services stayed on the scene until the situation was fully resolved.
British Airways A350 Makes Emergency Landing in Cape Town
Cape Town emergency services were placed on high alert during the incident. The response teams were ready to assist upon the aircraft’s arrival.
Read: https://t.co/EQn3BWDefH$IAG #British #Aviation #Avgeek #London pic.twitter.com/0UyIWN2Yks
— Aviation A2z (@Aviationa2z) April 17, 2025
According to the IOL, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) confirmed the incident.
“While the details surrounding the incident fall within the purview of the airline, we can confirm that all standard airport emergency protocols were immediately activated. Our emergency response teams, supported by all relevant stakeholders, were swiftly deployed in line with established safety procedures to manage the situation effectively and ensure the safety of all concerned.
“We continue to work closely with the airline and relevant authorities as the matter is further assessed,” the report quoted ACSA as saying.
