British Airways flight forced into emergency landing at Heathrow Airport after ‘strange smell’

A British Airways flight has been forced to make an emergency landing at Heathrow Airport after passengers reported a ‘strange smell’ on the flight.

Flight tracking sites showed the plane was headed for Nice when it had to make an emergency landing shortly after take off.

Flight Radar showed the BA 348 landed at Heathrow after the 7700 squawk code was initiated by crew on board who had reported ‘strange smells’. 

The code means that the flight needs immediate emergency attention from a nearby airport. It is up to the onboard crew to inform Air Traffic Control about the situation. 

A British Airways flight has been forced to make an emergency landing at Heathrow Airport after passengers reported a ‘strange smell’ on the flight

Flight tracking sites showed the plane was headed for Nice when it had to make an emergency landing shortly after take off. Pictured: The flight path recorded on Flight Radar

One passenger reported ‘strange smells’ on board the flight, added the pilots were seen wearing oxygen masks.

They tweeted: ‘Current pax and happen to be. A a320 pilot. Definitely strange smells. Pilots on oxygen masks.’

He added: ‘Firemen entered cockpit via airbridge. Seems nothing too critical as pax still strapped in.’

Passengers aboard the flight said that pilots were forced to put on oxygen masks following reports of ‘strange smells’

A spokesman for the airline confirmed the plane returned to the airport after a technical issue, with passengers now waiting on a replacement aircraft.

They told the Mirror: ‘The aircraft landed normally after returning to Heathrow following reports of a technical issue.

‘The safety of our customers and crew is always our priority.’

The airline said it was attempting to find the affected passengers a replacement to get to the south of France.

The nature of the technical issue remains unknown.

Heathrow Airport confirmed to the Mirror reports that the plane made an unscheduled landing with emergency crews ready. 

MailOnline has contacted BA and Heathrow for a statement.