BARCELONA — A United Airlines transcontinental flight bound for Washington, D.C., has declared a general emergency mid-flight and is making an unscheduled descent toward Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport.
United Airlines Flight UA127, operated by a Boeing 767-300ER (registration N649UA), took off from Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO) in Rome for a planned 10-hour flight to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
Less than an hour into the flight, while maintaining a cruising altitude of 33,000 feet over the western Mediterranean, the flight crew broadcasted squawk code 7700—the international transponder code designating an onboard emergency.
Following the emergency declaration, air traffic control cleared the aircraft to abandon its transatlantic route and initiate a rapid descent toward Barcelona. The nature of the emergency has not yet been publicly confirmed by United Airlines or aviation authorities.
UPDATE
The aircraft landed on runway on runway 24R at BCN, escorted by emergency vehicles.
- Flight:United Airlines UA127
- Aircraft: Boeing 767-300ER (Reg: N649UA)
- Route:Rome (FCO) to Washington Dulles (IAD)
- Initial Altitude: 33,000 ft
- Current Status:Diverting to Barcelona (BCN) under Emergency Squawk 7700
Emergency ground crews and airport emergency services in Barcelona are standardly positioned to assist diverting aircraft upon landing.
This is a developing story. Details will be updated as further statements from United Airlines or air traffic control become available.
