United Flight UA135 declares emergency, diverts to London Heathrow

Aman Shukla — Tue, 05 May 2026 09:24:49 +0000

A mid-air emergency involving United Airlines flight UA135 prompted an unscheduled diversion to London, drawing attention to aviation safety protocols and emergency response procedures.

Flight UA135, operated by a Boeing 767-300ER (registration N675UA), departed from Zurich at 10:16 CEST. The aircraft initially climbed to its cruising altitude of 36,000 feet and was en route over French airspace when the situation unfolded.

Approximately 50 minutes into the flight, the crew issued a 7700 squawk code — an internationally recognized signal indicating a general emergency. Following this declaration, the aircraft altered its course and began descending toward London.

The flight is currently approaching Heathrow Airport and is expected to land at around 10:46 local time. As per standard aviation protocol, emergency services at Heathrow have been placed on standby to ensure a swift response upon landing.

The exact nature of the emergency has not yet been disclosed. There has also been no official confirmation from United Airlines regarding the cause of the incident or details about the number of passengers and crew onboard.

United Flight UA135 | Business Upturn

United Flight UA135 declares emergency, diverts to London Heathrow