A British Airways flight bound for Cyprus was forced to return to London Gatwick Airport this afternoon after a suspected flight control issue was reported mid-flight.

Emergency Turnaround Over France

Flight BA2780 (callsign EFW39F), an Airbus A320 operating from London Gatwick to Pafos International Airport, was observed making a U-turn over northern France less than an hour into its journey. Flight tracking data showed the aircraft holding briefly before heading back across the English Channel and initiating a return approach to Gatwick.

The aircraft landed safely back at Gatwick Airport shortly after 1:30pm on Sunday 1st June 2025.

Flight Control Issue Reported

According to initial reports circulating on aviation monitoring platforms including @FlightEmergency and @AvSourceNews, the turnaround was triggered by a flight control issue detected by the crew. British Airways has not yet confirmed the nature of the technical fault, but the return is being treated as a precautionary safety measure.

Aviation analyst @Shauns_Aviation noted:

“BA2780’s return to base appears consistent with a precautionary response to a suspected flight control system anomaly — a standard safety-first decision in commercial aviation.”

Passengers Await Rebooking

Passengers on board are currently being assisted by ground staff. British Airways is expected to arrange an alternative aircraft or offer rebooking options for those continuing their journey to Cyprus.

There have been no reports of injuries, and all onboard safety protocols were followed.

Investigation Underway

The aircraft will undergo engineering inspections to determine the source of the fault. Flight safety authorities have been notified in line with standard operating procedures for in-flight incidents involving suspected technical issues.

This is a developing story and more details will be published as they become available.