A British Airways flight bound for Bangkok has declared an in-flight emergency and is currently diverting back to London Gatwick Airport after crew reported a burning electrical smell inside the cabin.

Flight BA2231, which had departed Gatwick (LGW) en route to Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), issued a “Squawk 7700” emergency transponder code—a standard alert used by aircraft experiencing a serious issue that requires immediate attention.

According to aviation monitoring services, the aircraft began turning back shortly after the smell was detected onboard.

Cabin Incident Raises Alarm

Initial reports suggest that crew members detected a burning smell—believed to be electrical in nature—prompting the pilot to follow emergency protocols and request an urgent return to Gatwick. The nature and source of the issue have not yet been officially confirmed.

Passengers onboard are said to be calm, and the cabin crew is continuing to follow standard safety procedures as the aircraft returns to the airport.

Flight Emergency Response Underway

Emergency vehicles have been placed on standby at Gatwick Airport, where the aircraft is expected to land shortly. British Airways has yet to release a formal statement.

More Updates to Follow

This is a developing story. Further details regarding the nature of the fault, passenger safety, and potential delays to other Gatwick operations are expected to be released shortly.