Virgin Atlantic long-haul flight VS8 from Los Angeles International Airport to London Heathrow declared an in-flight emergency while cruising over the United Kingdom, following what has been described as a serious medical incident on board.
The aircraft, an Airbus A350-1000 registered G-VPRD, issued a Squawk 7700 signal — the standard international code indicating a general emergency — while flying at approximately 39,000 feet. The crew subsequently initiated an expedited descent toward Heathrow Airport.
Air traffic control granted the flight priority handling, with emergency services reportedly placed on standby at Heathrow ahead of the aircraft’s arrival.
The flight had departed Los Angeles on Monday afternoon. No further details have been released regarding the condition of the affected passenger or the outcome following landing.
This post was published on 21 April 2026 22:59
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