Passengers aboard a British Airways flight from Gatwick Airport faced immense frustration after their long-awaited journey to Costa Rica took an unexpected turn. The Boeing 777 flight, initially bound for the Costa Rican capital, San José, was forced to make a sudden U-turn over the Atlantic, nearly five hours into the 11-hour journey, resulting in a gruelling nine-hour round trip.

The flight departed from London Gatwick on Tuesday morning, slightly behind schedule, but was progressing steadily until the pilots were compelled to turn back due to what the airline later described as a “minor technical issue.” This unforeseen turn of events left the aircraft circling back to the UK, completing an approximately 4,000-mile loop that culminated in a “flight to nowhere.”

Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 highlighted the flight’s path, with a map showing its trajectory veering mid-ocean, halfway between departure and destination. The sudden U-turn disappointed and angered passengers who were eagerly anticipating their holidays.

One frustrated passenger vented on social media, expressing dismay over the unexpected rerouting and adding that there had been “no word of compensation or another flight,” calling the situation “a mess.”

In response, British Airways issued an apology. A spokesperson stated, “We’re sorry for the delay in our customers’ travel plans after their aircraft experienced a minor technical issue. Our teams looked after our customers during the delay and worked hard to get them on their way as quickly as possible.”

Despite the setback, the aircraft was seen to be scheduled for another flight the following day, according to Flightradar24 data.

The incident came on the heels of British Airways’ recent announcement to suspend all flights from Gatwick to New York until next year. The decision was attributed to difficulties in sourcing parts for the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines used by the Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet.

Operational disruptions such as these can be costly for airlines. A Boeing 777, for instance, costs approximately $40 million (£30.9 million) annually to operate, with each flight cycle estimated at around $60,300, as per Aviation Intelligence. This flight-to-nowhere episode added to the airline’s ongoing operational and financial strain.

Delays and detours aren’t just frustrating for travelers but impact airline budgets significantly due to increased fuel consumption, additional airport fees, and potential compensation claims from inconvenienced passengers.

Adding to recent challenges, British Airways recently faced an unrelated incident when a dispute broke out over a passenger’s Donald Trump MAGA hat, delaying a Heathrow flight by two hours. The combination of technical issues, operational suspensions, and in-flight disruptions has placed the airline under intense public scrutiny in recent months.

British Airways’ recent setbacks highlight the complexities of airline operations, from technical maintenance challenges to the importance of maintaining customer trust amid disruption.