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A transatlantic passenger jet has been forced to land at Cardiff International Airport due to smoke in the cockpit.
The British Airways 747, flying from New York's JFK airport to Heathrow, London, diverted to Cardiff at about 1230 GMT and made an emergency landing.
A Cardiff airport spokesman said fire crews were on standby but the plane landed safely. The cause of the problem in the cockpit is being investigated.
There were 17 crew members aboard the plane but just two passengers.
It was the second incident involving the plane in 24 hours.
Earlier, the aircraft had suffered a bird strike as it flew into New York.
This led to a six-hour delay for the plane at JFK airport.
Nearly all the passengers were put on other flights, leaving just two on board the jumbo jet when it was involved in the incident as it headed to the UK.
A Cardiff airport spokesman said: "It was reported that pilots had smelt smoke in the cockpit and the airport was put on full alert.
"The incident was dealt with by on-site engineers who discovered no fire and the passengers were sent onward to their final destinations by taxi."
A BA spokeswoman added: "There was an indication that there was smoke at the rear of the aircraft. Our engineers are now checking the aircraft."

A 747 to yourself? what a cool way to travel. first class business class your choice

BA operate a transatlantic 747-flight with 2 passengers? no airlines crisis in great britain as it seems...

BA should sell some 747s and but A340s instead.

I WAS ONCE ON A FLIGHT FROM NEW YORK TO FLORIDA IN A DC-10 WITH ONLY A DOZEN PEOPLE ON BOARD!
I COULD SIT WHEVER I WANTED!
IT WAS PRETTY COOL!!

Dave

Sorry, caps lock!!  :P

THe airlines must loose soooooooooooo much money on those flights, its probably cheaper to cancel the flight and loose those customers! Some angry people will write threatening letters though.

Also, if that aircraft is due to pick up passengers at the destination airport, it has to get there anyway.....

Ferry flight, the extra 2 passengers wouldn't have been a big hit in terms of weight so instead of hoteling them to the next free flight its easier and cheaper to send them on a ferry flight. A couple off airlines will even use their cargo planes to transport small numbers of passengers left behind if the plane has the required seating.

I was on a BA flight from Glasgow to Birmingham once with only about nine people. Very relaxing. Made me appreciate paying money and getting service instead of going with low cost airlines.

I hate low cost airlines, they suck!  >:(

I once flew on a 767 from Heathrow to New York & each passenger had a full row of seats to themselves. The service was amazing but it was very different on the way home.

I flew on a C-130 from Guam to the Philippines with only two passengers (plus the crew of course) The aircraft was rigged for cargo (but no cargo) and had a few bunks. We were provided with the usual bedding and besides sleeping in, we threw footballs for lack of anything else to do.

Bubblehead

perfect ewplanation of the crew smelling smoke, the flight assistant was smoking hash.

Back in the days of Sabena, there was always plenty of space in their Airbuses. They had too many planes, and too few passengers. No wonder they went bankrupt...  :P
I wonder what profits BA makes?  ;D

BA should sell some 747s and but A340s instead.

Because it's so much cheaper to fly two passengers on an A340 than on a 747.  Too bad those Cessna 172s just don't have the range for that route.

Besides, aren't Airbus aircraft immune from bird strikes?