British Airways Flight Forced to Change Direction Due to Spanish Military Jet

British Airways flight A490 was forced to change its direction due to a Spanish military surveillance jet flying nearby in Gibraltar, on October 31.

According to the authorities, the Ejército del Aire P3 aircraft, which was flying ahead of the British Airways plane, ‘suddenly reversed its direction and took another course’, entering the flight path of Airbus A320. The air traffic controllers then asked the British Airways plane, which was around 10 to 15 miles from landing in Gibraltar, to change direction in order to maintain safe distance.

According to a statement released by Gibraltar authorities on Monday, “The Government of Gibraltar is waiting for a full report on the incident, which will clarify whether the Spanish military plane made an incursion into the airspace over British Gibraltar territorial waters.”