british airways squawk 7700 heathrow landing
Definition
An aviation-specific phrase referring to a British Airways flight declaring a general emergency (Squawk 7700) while intending to land at London Heathrow Airport.
A term used in aviation enthusiast circles or news reporting to describe a critical in-flight situation where a BA pilot sets the aircraft transponder to the universal emergency code 7700 to signal distress to air traffic control.
Examples
The news feed went wild the moment the British Airways flight pulled a squawk 7700 and prioritized a Heathrow landing over the passenger's request for a lukewarm meal.
Nothing ruins the aesthetic of a peaceful afternoon at Heathrow quite like the frantic chatter of air traffic control reacting to a British Airways squawk 7700.
Pilots usually try to avoid the drama, but a British Airways squawk 7700 landing at Heathrow is the aviation equivalent of showing up to a party with your hair on fire.