Police surround United Airlines plane after it makes emergency landing at Heathrow
United Airlines flight UA949 left Heathrow at 12.45pm before turning around and making an emergency landing.
The crew declared an emergency on board the flight as it headed to San Francisco and made a U-turn.
The reason for the return to London was a technical fault, AirLive reports.
The Boeing 777-200ER had climbed 15,000 feet and was above Milton Keynes before turning around.
Police vans and fire engines were scrambled to the runway and met the plane after arrival.
Jerry Dyer from Big Jet TV, who was filming at Heathrow when the plane returned back to the airport, told Metro that there was no smoke when the plane landed 'safely.'
Unverified claims emerged online saying that smoke was coming out of the plane. London Fire Brigade told Metro it did attend the incident, but no direct action was required.
Jerry said the plane had used a general emergency code, which could be anything from 'minor technical issues to a problem with passengers like a health issue.'
Jerry praised the emergency services, the plane crew and Heathrow for their response, saying the fire engines and ambulances were already on the tarmac as a precaution.
It is common for planes to use the general emergency code and make a landing, but this does not necessarily suggest a major emergency.
A spokesperson from Heathrow Airport told Metro that the plane 'landed safely and had no wider impact on operations.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
FAFO parenting teaches good behaviour the hard way — but it could 'tip into neglect'
With every new generation of parents comes a new school of thought on the best approach to child-rearing. And just as gentle parenting replaced the authoritarian methods favoured in decades gone by, the pendulum has now swung back to something altogether more savage: FAFO, or f*** around and find out. According to a recent Wall Street Journal report, an increasing number of parents are adopting FAFO after the softer approach left them feeling 'walk[ed] all over'. Whereas gentle parenting encourages positive behaviour through discussion and redirection, FAFO is all about letting kids experience the negative consequences of their actions. Say it's a winter's morning and your little one is refusing to put a coat on; following the former technique, you'd acknowledge their frustration and explain why you're asking them to wrap up warm. On the other hand, if you're going by FAFO, you'd simply let them go out in their t-shirt, hoping the cold would make them miserable enough to learn their lesson. If you think it seems a bit harsh, you're not alone. According to Sarah Ockwell-Smith, author of The Gentle Parenting Book, although it may look like it works to produce obedience without much effort, 'it's a temporary quick fix that will cause far more issues down the line.' Dr Emily Crosby, child and educational psychologist, largely agrees, arguing that children need to feel protected by the adults in their lives above all else. 'If they do not feel this safety early on in their childhoods this can then result in negative behaviours towards themselves, friendships, romantic relationships and even their own children one day,' she tells Metro. To balance no-nonsense discipline with healthy guidance, Dr Crosby says boundaries are vital — and these must be in place, with trust and respected established, before you even consider a more experimental approach. Although Dr Amanda Gummer, PhD in neuropsychology and founder of the Good Play Guide, acknowledges that FAFO 'risks tipping into neglect' if taken too far, she believes it can work for parents who 'feel burnt out from constant negotiation and micromanagement' at home. More Trending 'There's a growing sense among parents that children are not developing the tools to cope with failure, disappointment or responsibility because adults are too quick to intervene and soften every blow,' she tells Metro. 'When done well, I think an FAFO approach can help children build life skills such as judgement, independence, emotional regulation and resilience. Experiencing manageable failures and learning to reflect on them can foster a strong sense of competence and self-esteem. And for parents, it can reduce conflict and relieve the emotional burden of being involved in every small decision.' Dr Gummer's advice is to start small and be there to offer support whenever it's required; like letting them deal with the school's repercussions for not doing their homework, then discussing things together when they get home. 'It's about stepping back just enough to allow growth, without withdrawing a presence,' she adds. 'Letting children experience consequences within safe limits is an important part of growing up, but it should never feel like punishment or abandonment. Compassion remains key.' Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Shocking photo reveals 'putrid' melon-sized hairball removed from teen's stomach MORE: Calvin Harris' placenta Instagram post isn't 'vile' but the backlash is MORE: I left my six kids and husband behind in the UK to start a new life abroad Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Metro
15 hours ago
- Metro
Gen Z eat like 'senior citizens' — and our chaotic world is to blame
While our friends over in Italy and Spain might be famous for their long, late-night suppers, when I'm making a dinner reservation, I opt for the standard 7pm. I have long assumed this is the norm – anything earlier, and I wouldn't be hungry – and frankly, eating during the late-afternoon feels a bit…uncool? But it turns out, Gen Z are switching it up. According to new research from OpenTable, 6pm is an increasingly in-demand time to eat out – with reservations for this time increasing by 11% in London and 6% UK-wide. Another 2024 study found that Gen Z were the most likely to make an earlier dinner booking. It's behaviour that saw one Gen Z TikToker dubbed a 'senior citizen' by her parents, and has even been branded 'loser' behaviour. So why the need to eat so early? The younger generation is famously fond of 'boundaries', and an earlier dinner dates represent a fundamental shift in this boundary-setting. 'Dining at 6pm may reflect a broader change in how people are structuring and managing their time,' Irene Scopelliti, professor of marketing and behavioural science at Bayes Business School, tells Metro. 'One key concept here is time affluence – the feeling of having more time. An early dinner extends the perceived length of the evening and creates a sense of control.' According to another 2024 OpenTable study, 39% said early booking allowed more free time afterwards to enjoy their evening solo. Irene adds that being exposed to uncertainty for a prolonged period of time can sometimes lead people to 'seek greater control and predictability in their personal environments.' And this might extend to Gen Z. Irene adds: 'This stronger preference for structures and routine among a demographic whose formative years have seen economic disruption, climate anxiety and geopolitical conflict.' The pandemic having a long-lasting affect on how we work may also have had an impact. As hybrid working patterns blur lines between work and home, Irene says people have 'new markers that signal this transition.' The 6pm dinner marks a clear break between the structured environment of work and the freedom of personal time. 'A 6pm dinner may serve as a behavioural cue to end the workday,' she says. 'It also sets a socially binding deadline to stop working, as once a plan is set, research shows that individuals are more likely to follow through.' There's also the financial aspect to consider. Gen Z come of age during a cost-of-living crisis, and can be more money-conscious than their elder counterparts. One 2024 study from Barclays revealing that they're more likely to take a considered approach to spending, both in terms of how much they spend and what they consume. More Trending There's often a gain to be had from booking an earlier dinner slot. For example, the First Table initiative offers diners in London the chance to book the first available table (often as early as 5pm on weekdays) for a 50% discount – a no-brainer amid a cost-of-living crisis that's squeezing British diners out of a meal out. For many, it's a treat – and a rare one at that. And, health-conscious Gen Z may be weighing up the health benefits too. A 2019 study found that those who eat late at night (within two hours of sleep) are 50% more likely to be impacted by obesity. Gen Zers are breaking from binge drinking habits, with research from Drinkaware finding that 16 to 24-year-olds were the most likely cohort to be sober. View More » Gym memberships among Gen Z have also almost doubled since 2020, and 30% are regularly working out at the gym, compared to between 15 and 25% of the total adult population. A 6pm start inevitably means and early night – meaning you can get up for that 6am gym class. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: I bought a £420,000 flat with a friend — and then we fell out MORE: I went to 19 schools – I still struggle with the impact MORE: KöD's signature three-course menu for only £39.50: 10 unmissable Time Out deals Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Buried alive: How 33 men survived being trapped underground for 69 days
The terrified group men spent 15 days underground with no contact from the outside world. For more than two weeks, they had no idea if anyone was coming to get them, or whether they would be left to die following a catastrophic mine collapse in Chile's Atacama Desert. Some believed they were 'trapped underground with the devil' following the San Jose copper mine disaster, 15 years ago on 5 August 2010. And just as the miners were terrified they wouldn't make it out alive, above them, their families had no idea whether they had survived the collapse. The San Jose mine, a large shaft which zig-zags down into the earth, had been destroyed when a boulder the size of the Empire State Building collapsed, sealing 33 miners half a mile underground. Their lives had only been saved from the cave-in by the fact that they were waiting in a large cavern for the transport to arrive to take them up for lunch. Had they been within the tunnels of the 120-year-old colliery, the workers would certainly have died. 'All the mines in the Atacama Desert at that time were pretty unregulated, so it was a lot more dangerous than you would expect. It had been allowed to work with effectively a single entry, which means if there is a disaster, there was only one way in and out,' Brian Robinson of UK Mines Rescue tells Metro. Trapped underground, the men survived on basic rations and dirty water. They had what little light they could use from their head lamps, although they used it sparingly, and it was exceptionally hot and dusty. 'It would have been horrendous. They didn't know if they were safe, or if they would get out. They drained vehicle radiators for water and had to drink any coming into the mine, literally seeping through the layers of rock,' Brian says. Former miner and now a safety expert and trainer, Brian has had more than a few 'near misses' during his time underground. Miners, he says, accept it is a difficult and perilous job. 'It has to be done; it's how you provide for your family', he says – but San Jose was particularly dangerous. Eight miners had died underground there in 2000, and the works had been shut down after an accident in 2007, but reopened a year later. The miner's families, concerned that their men would be left to die underground, formed an encampment at the mine entrance, 'Camp Hope' gave media statements and lobbied the Government to help. For days, rescue teams found no way through, and many assumed the miners were dead, leaving families in torment. One of the men caught by the collapse was Ariel Ticona, a 29-year-old miner, who had heard rumbling and seen large cracks in the mine's ramp in the weeks before the collapse, but with two children at home and his wife Elizabeth expecting a daughter, he had no choice but to take the work. He lived on cookies, crackers and juice while trapped, drinking sour milk to sustain him. Ariel later told a CNN documentary: 'I felt helpless that I could leave this world without meeting my daughter…We would pray at noon every day, on the day my wife was due, I asked for a prayer so that everything would be okay'. Fellow survivor 56-year-old Jorge Galleguillos said: 'We lived with death, we slept with death.' The men took it in turns to sleep, working in shifts to maintain the mine, look for escape routes, and – vitally – keep up morale. They washed with water collected from dripping rocks in a cup. 'We knew that if society broke down, we would all be doomed. Each day a different person took a bad turn. Every time that happened, we worked as a team to try to keep the morale up,' miner Mario Sepulveda said. 'The air was so bad our eyes were burning the whole time. We were all coughing. It was like being in a filthy sauna where the air is full of dirt. We made beds by putting cardboard on the floor', he told the Daily Mail. Rations dwindled – on one day a tin of tuna had to be split 33 ways – and the men fell ill with sores and fungal infections. One miner, 31-year-old Alex Vega, lost 33lb and went temporarily blind. For 15 days, the workers heard nothing until a drill started to echo through the rocks. Two days later the probe broke through. The trapped men screamed: 'We are found!' They tied a plastic bag onto the equipment and painted a red cross onto the drill bit, along with a note stating ''Estamos bien en el refugio los 33″ – All 33 of us are well inside the shelter.' Up at ground level, Camp Hope erupted. Lilly Ramírez, the partner of miner Mario Gómez, was so overwhelmed that she fainted. However, there was a long way to go before the men could be brought home; no-one had ever recovered so many people from such a depth and probe footage revealed the scale of the problem ahead. The rescue was predicted to take months, and the workers would have to remain mentally strong while they waited. They found strength in daily prayer, and the miners decided that Ariel was to name his baby, due in September, 'Esperanza', meaning 'Hope'. Meanwhile, on land, three different rescue plans were being developed as engineers grappled with the challenging geology. The men were buried under andesite, a rock almost twice as hard as granite, company maps of the mine were inaccurate and drillers faced many obstacles and broken equipment. A rescue capsule – just 55cm wide – was to be sent down to haul the miners up, but it wasn't until October 9 – more than two months after the initial disaster – that the main rescue shaft was completed. In the early hours of October 13, from a tiny hole in the ground, miner Florencio Avalos emerged. He was fixed with a bio-harness to monitor his vital signs and sunglasses to protect his eyes. His seven-year-old son Bairon wailed at his arrival. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video As Florencio stumbled out of the capsule, he was embraced by his family, rescuers and Chilean President Pinera, and watched by millions of TV viewers around the world. Over the next few hours, all the miners were rescued, with foreman Luis Urzua the last to come up. It was a miraculous rescue and the miners were celebrated as heroes. After checks in hospital and time with their family, they were sent to Disneyland with their families, to Old Trafford to watch the football, to Greece for beach holidays and to the Holy Land for spiritual pilgrimage. After the rescue, Brian pored through hours of footage to see what could be learned from the disaster. Having recovered too many bodies from underground – he wants no-one to experience the trauma lived by 'Los 33'. Just last week, five miners tragically lost their lives after a shaft collapsed deep inside Chile's El Teniente mine – the world's biggest underground copper mine – following a 4.2 magnitude earthquake. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 'When disasters like this happen, many don't survive,' explains Brian. 'It was big that everyone survived the Chile rescue. It spurred us on to think about how we manage future rescues and assist people. Just two weeks ago there was a disaster where workers were trapped [in a Canadian mine] and they were got out safely. 'The Chilean disaster has helped people think about how things happened, what went well, what went wrong, how can we change outcomes, how can we make things better,' he adds. More Trending Of course, living in the dark with the constant fear of death for 69 days, left it's mark on the men. They struggled with sleep and nightmares after being 'swallowed into the bowels of hell' in Mario's words. Alex suffered memory and concentration problems and Ariel left his house one day, returning a few days later unable to explain why he had gone. Carlos Barrios, the thirteenth miner to be rescued, ended up unable to work and was prescribed drugs to which he became addicted. While a Hollywood movie was made about the disaster, the men were left with deep psychological scars. Jorge told CNN at the time: 'I am alive, thanks to God, that's the important thing, but I should be doing better. I should be doing better.'For Mario, it was a lucky escape: 'I have been with God and I've been with the devil. I seized the hand of God.' MORE: 'It was a slap in the face when Ed Westwick got the role I auditioned for' MORE: I sold a bikini on a preloved site – now I'm wondering who bought it MORE: The disability employment gap affects 16 million people in the UK – but can the government fix it?
