British Airways flight issued mayday call near Heathrow
An Airbus A320 flying from Dusseldorf experienced stall warnings and flew in 'alternate law' mode.
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A British Airways aircraft issued a mayday distress call on its approach to Heathrow Airport on 6 July 2026. The Airbus A320 was flying from Dusseldorf when it experienced two stall warnings. The flight subsequently landed without further incident.
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The UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) confirmed it is investigating the event as a serious incident. The investigation will be a correspondence-based inquiry, meaning no field team will be deployed. France's accident investigation authority, the BEA, stated that a data system failure triggered the initial stall warning.
Following the data system failure and the first stall warning, the flight crew switched the aircraft to 'alternate law' mode. This mode reduces the level of automated flight protection systems. A second stall warning occurred when the aircraft was at 3,000 feet, according to the BEA.
Aviation safety expert David Gleave commented that mayday calls are not always indicative of significant aircraft failure. He explained that captains have discretion to use urgency messages for various reasons, such as medical emergencies on board. Gleave noted that such calls are not unusual for non-technical issues.
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A British Airways spokesperson stated the airline is cooperating with the AAIB's investigation and cannot provide further comment at this time.
Questions this report answers
+What caused the mayday call on the British Airways flight?
A data system failure triggered the first stall warning on the Airbus A320, which led to the mayday call. The second stall warning occurred at 3,000 feet before the aircraft landed safely.
+What does 'alternate law' mode mean for the flight?
'Alternate law' mode reduces automated flight protections, meaning the aircraft operates with fewer safeguards. The crew switched to this mode after the first stall warning to manage the situation.
+Is a mayday call always a sign of a serious technical failure?
No, mayday calls can be issued for non-technical reasons such as medical emergencies, according to aviation safety expert David Gleave. Captains have discretion to use urgency messages for various situations.
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