British Airways flight diverts after window cracks during journey to Portugal

A British Airways flight traveling from London Gatwick Airport to Faro, Portugal, was forced to make an emergency U-turn on October 13, 2026. The Daily Mail and The Sun both reported that the aircraft declared a mid-air emergency due to a cracked window. [1][2]

The BA EuroFlyer service departed London Gatwick at around 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday. According to the Daily Mail, pilots issued the emergency notice roughly an hour into the flight, shortly after passing Brittany, France. [1]

Aviation news outlet AirLive reported that the pilots noticed structural damage to a window panel on the right side of the aircraft. The tracking service AirNav Radar raised the alarm on Tuesday morning after the urgent diversion was initiated, the Daily Mail reported. [1]

Portugal is a member of the European Union, where tourism forms a core part of the national economy. The destination of Faro is located on the southern coast of the country. [5]