British Airways Flight 54 Returns to Johannesburg After Radar Failure

British Airways Flight 54, an Airbus A380 bound for London, returned to Johannesburg on August 9 after a critical malfunction in its weather radar system. The aircraft had departed O.R. Tambo International Airport more than five hours behind schedule, traveling north over Botswana, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

While over Central Africa, the crew discovered the radar displayed dense clutter that prevented the detection of storms, and the backup system was inoperative. Because the aircraft was too heavy for an immediate landing, pilots entered a holding pattern north of Johannesburg for approximately two hours to burn off fuel before landing safely.

Passengers were provided with overnight accommodation while maintenance crews repaired the radar system. The aircraft successfully completed the journey to London Heathrow later that evening. The airline issued an apology for the inconvenience caused to customers.