Hundreds of British Airways passengers stranded for days in freezing temperatures after flight makes emergency diversion

Susanna Siddell
Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:51:44 +0000

Hundreds of British Airways passengers were left "stranded for days in freezing temperatures after their flight made an emergency diversion".

A flight carrying 255 passengers from London to Houston was forced to make an unscheduled stop in St John's, Newfoundland, in Canada, on March 31 following a medical emergency onboard.

What began as an urgent diversion soon deteriorated into a days-long nightmare for travellers after the aircraft developed technical faults that prevented it from continuing its journey.

To make matters worse, the plane then encountered mechanical problems following the emergency landing, leaving passengers stranded in the remote Canadian city, BA confirmed.

Travellers have since condemned the carrier's handling of the situation, describing scenes of chaos and inadequate support during their unexpected stay.

Jon Shipman, a Liverpool resident travelling with his family to visit friends who had relocated to Texas, recounted the frustrating series of events to the BBC.

Approximately three hours into the flight, passengers learned of a "grave medical emergency" aboard the aircraft, he explained.

"We just sat around waiting for news," Mr Shipman said, describing how travellers remained confined to their seats for three hours after landing.

The situation worsened when crew announced the plane had developed a fault that could not be repaired, forcing everyone to disembark.

Passengers were unable to retrieve their checked luggage and received minimal guidance from British Airways staff, according to Mr Shipman.

"We're not soft. We understand there was a medical emergency. We understand there's a technical issue," Mr Shipman told the BBC.

He added passengers were mostly livid due to the airline failing to provide "clear updates".

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"Just be open and explain what's happening, you know?" he lamented.

Meanwhile, some stranded travellers were even forced to sleep on airport floors as they desperately waited for a resolution.

Conditions in St John's that day were bitterly cold, passengers complained, with temperatures plunging to a whopping low of -10C and reaching only -5C at their peak.

"Furious is an understatement. We are being told we are now heading to Houston. I won't believe it 'til we take off," the furious Liverpool resident fumed.

British Airways issued an apology for the disruption, explaining it had contacted affected customers "to offer a gesture to make things right."

However, Heather McKinnon, general manager at the Delta Hotel in St John's where passengers were accommodated, brushed off characterisations of the weather as extreme.

"It's hardly frozen," Ms McKinnon bluntly put, adding that staff provided "warm hospitality" despite the wintry conditions.