Passengers aboard British Airways flight BA123 to Doha experienced an unexpected round-trip after their aircraft was forced to turn back.
LONDON — The flight, operated by a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner (registration G-ZBLA), departed London Heathrow’s runway 27R at 19:59 GMT on February 27, 2026. Despite a slight delay from its scheduled 19:20 departure, the aircraft initially appeared to be on a routine trajectory, climbing to a cruising altitude of 37,000 feet as it crossed over Belgium.
The U-Turn Over Slovenia
The journey took an abrupt turn—literally—after the aircraft traversed the airspaces of Germany and Austria. The Dreamliner reached Slovenian airspace before performing a sharp U-turn back toward the United Kingdom.
While the specific nature of the issue has not been detailed by the airline, such long-range returns are typically prompted by technical “non-normal” indications that require the specialized maintenance facilities available at a primary hub like Heathrow.
Return and Cancellation
The aircraft touched down safely back on Heathrow’s runway 27R at 23:15 GMT, approximately three hours and fifteen minutes after it first took flight.
British Airways has since confirmed that the flight was officially cancelled following the landing. A spokesperson for the airline apologized for the disruption to travel plans, though they did not immediately specify whether the issue was mechanical or related to an incident on board.
| Flight Detail | Information |
| Flight Number | BA123 |
| Route | London (LHR) to Doha (DOH) |
| Aircraft Type | Boeing 787-10 |
| Registration | G-ZBLA |
| Status | Cancelled |
Under standard passenger rights regulations, affected travelers are expected to be rebooked on alternative flights or provided with hotel accommodations in London.
