Transatlantic jet issues distress call over Ireland

The crew of a transatlantic jet issued a radio distress call over Ireland yesterday and told controllers they wished to turn around and return to London. Air Canada flight AC-851 left London’s Heathrow at 1.43pm bound for Calgary in Canada.

The Boeing 787-800 Dreamliner was crossing over Ireland around 2.20pm when the crew informed air traffic controllers of their issue.

The crew had been in contact with controllers at the Irish Aviation Authority’s North Atlantic Communications Centre at Ballygirreen at the time. The pilot issued a Pan Pan distress call, which is not as serious as a May Day alert, and reported they had detected a “smell” in the cabin.