Due to poor weather in Inverness, a British Airways flight made a u-turn and went straight back to London Heathrow, it’s original departure field.
British Airways BA1420 – London to Inverness…
Persistent poor weather at Inverness Airport once again highlighted the operational challenges faced by airlines serving the Highlands, as British Airways flight BA1420 was forced to abandon its approach and return to London Heathrow.
The service, operated by an Airbus A320neo, departed Heathrow on schedule for its routine morning run to Inverness, only to spend nearly two hours in the air before diverting back to its point of origin.
The aircraft made steady progress northbound, but conditions deteriorated rapidly over the Moray Firth.
Inverness Airport is no stranger to weather‑related disruption, with strong winds, low cloud, and sudden visibility drops frequently affecting operations.
Local reports have noted that high winds and fog have already caused cancellations on the route in recent weeks.
On this occasion, the combination of heavy icy fog and unstable conditions on final approach left the crew with little choice but to discontinue the landing attempt.
A Two-Hour Flight from London to London Effectively…
After holding briefly to assess the situation, BA1420 initiated a return to Heathrow—an outcome that effectively turned the flight into a two‑hour loop with no passengers reaching their intended destination.
While diversions are a routine part of aviation safety, returning all the way to London rather than diverting to an alternate Scottish airport underscores how marginal the weather became across the region.
For passengers, the experience is understandably frustrating.
A flight intended to connect the UK’s capital with the Highlands instead delivered an unexpected airborne round‑trip.
For British Airways, it adds to a growing list of weather‑related disruptions on the route this winter.
Inverness Airport’s exposure to North Sea weather systems means such events are likely to continue, particularly during the storm‑prone months.
As airlines balance safety, scheduling, and operational constraints, days like this serve as a reminder of how quickly the Highlands’ weather can reshape even the best‑planned flights.
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