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, but mostly due to Middle East situation.
| 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.
