Editing Virgin Atlantic (section)

==Incidents and accidents==
Virgin Atlantic is considered to have a strong safety reputation. Since the airline's founding in 1984, it has never suffered a complete hull-loss incident or a passenger fatality.<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.businessinsider.com/safest-airlines-in-the-world-for-2018-2017-12|title=The 20 safest airlines in the world|last=Zhang |first=Benjamin |date= 1 November 2018|website=Business Insider |access-date= 31 July 2019}}</ref>

* On [[Virgin Atlantic Flight 024|5 November 1997]], after numerous attempts to shake free the jammed main landing gear of an [[Airbus A340-300]] (G-VSKY) failed, the aircraft en route from Los Angeles to Heathrow made an emergency landing at Heathrow Airport. The aircraft sustained major damage to the undersides of engines one, two, and four, which made contact with the runway surface during landing. The runway surface was also damaged and several runway lights were broken as the right main landing gear wheels broke up during the deceleration. The aircraft was evacuated safely. Two crew members and five passengers sustained minor injuries during the evacuation.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/formal_reports/4_2000__g_vsky.cfm |title=Report on the accident to Airbus A340-300, G-VSKY, at London Heathrow Airport on 5&nbsp;November 1997 |publisher=Air Accident Investigations Branch |year=2000 |access-date=14 March 2009}}</ref> The damaged aircraft was repaired after the incident and was retired from the Virgin Atlantic fleet in 2003.{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
* On 8 February 2005, on board an [[Airbus A340-600]] aircraft (G-VATL) en route from Hong Kong to Heathrow, the fuel control computer system caused a loss of automatic fuel transfer between tanks. The pilots diverted to Amsterdam and landed safely. The interim accident report made four safety recommendations addressed to the primary certification bodies for large transport category aircraft ([[European Aviation Safety Agency|EASA]] and the [[Federal Aviation Administration|FAA]]), advising on the need for a low-fuel warning system for large aircraft.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/media/5422f72c40f0b613420005d7/4-2007_G-VATL.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327015534/https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/media/5422f72c40f0b613420005d7/4-2007_G-VATL.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-27 |url-status=live |title= Airbus A340-642, G-VATL |publisher=Air Accident Investigations Branch |year=2006 |access-date=26 July 2007 }}</ref>
* On 11 August 2011, Virgin Atlantic flight VS52, a [[Boeing 747-400]] (G-VXLG) operating from [[Tobago]]-[[A.N.R. Robinson International Airport]] to [[Gatwick Airport|London Gatwick Airport]] sustained minor damage in a taxiing incident. The aeroplane was taxiing out towards the departure runway at [[Tobago]]-[[A.N.R. Robinson International Airport]] when it entered a taxiway that was closed for construction activity. One of the wheels partly sank through the concrete. This resulted in the [[Boeing 747-400]] becoming stuck.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://archives.newsday.co.tt/2011/08/13/tobago-airport-reopens-after-aircraft-incident/ | title=Tobago airport reopens after aircraft incident | date=13 August 2011 }}</ref>
* On 29 December 2014, a [[Boeing 747-400]] (G-VROM) operating a flight from [[Gatwick Airport|London Gatwick Airport]] to McCarran International Airport (now [[Harry Reid International Airport]]) in [[Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]], as Virgin Atlantic Flight 43, returned to Gatwick following an indication that the far right main landing gear was stuck inside the aircraft. The Boeing 747-400 landed safely on runway 26L at Gatwick without further incident. Investigators found that an actuator in the landing gear was installed inverted, sticking the [[landing gear]] leg sideways and could not be extended. There were no injuries to the 465 people on board and the aircraft returned to service on 11 January 2015.
* On 15 March 2021, Virgin Atlantic flight 453 operated by a [[Boeing 787-9]] en route to Tel Aviv from Heathrow was forced to return to Heathrow after the aircraft was subject to a laser attack from the ground during take-off. The flight crew issued an emergency ''Pan'' call whilst flying over Paris  after the captain lost sight in one eye. No other injuries were reported.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ben|date=2021-03-17|title=Virgin Atlantic 787 Diverts After Pilot Injured By Laser|url=https://onemileatatime.com/virgin-atlantic-pilot-laser/|access-date=2021-04-29|website=One Mile at a Time|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-03-16|title=Virgin Atlantic Jet Turns Back After Laser Attack on Pilots|language=en|work=Bloomberg.com|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-16/virgin-atlantic-jet-turns-back-after-laser-attack-on-pilots|access-date=2021-04-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Virgin Atlantic flight to TLV returns to UK after laser shone in cockpit|url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/virgin-atlantic-flight-to-tlv-returns-to-uk-after-laser-shone-in-cockpit-662146|access-date=2021-04-29|website=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|date=16 March 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref>
* On 2 May 2022, Virgin Atlantic flight VS3, callsign VIR3N operated by an [[Airbus A330|Airbus A330-343]] (G-VWAG) was bound for [[New York City|New York's]] [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|John F. Kennedy Airport]] from [[Heathrow Airport|London Heathrow Airport]] when it was forced to turn around over [[Ireland]] approximately 35 minutes after takeoff. This was due to a rostering error leading to the [[First officer (aviation)|First Officer]] operating the flight before they had fully completed their company training. The [[Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom)|CAA]] confirmed that the First Officer in question is a fully qualified pilot and no risk to safety or wrongdoing took place. Virgin confirmed it was an internal training incident and swiftly replaced the first officer to allow the flight to resume shortly after.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-05 |title=Plane returns to Heathrow after pilot roster error |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-61332456 |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Virgin Atlantic flight forced to turn around as pilot 'did not have designated trainer status' |url=https://news.sky.com/story/virgin-atlantic-flight-forced-to-turn-around-as-pilot-did-not-have-designated-trainer-status-12605587 |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=Sky News |language=en}}</ref>
* On 26 October 2022, Virgin Atlantic flight VS76 an Airbus A330-300 operating from Orlando to Manchester suffered from an inflight incapacitation of a member of the flight crew.  The female first officer was taken ill and the flight had to continue with only one pilot at the controls. The cause of the illness was never determined even though the incapacitated pilot reported she had only eaten a single sandwich provided by Virgin Atlantic in the 12 hours before the flight.
* On 6 April 2024, there was a ground collision involving a [[British Airways]] plane with 121 passengers on board and a Boeing 787 plane. Heathrow said there were no injuries and no delays but both aircraft suffered wing damage.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-04-06 |title=Heathrow: British Airways and Virgin Atlantic planes in minor collision |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-68749072 |access-date=2024-04-21 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>