Live: Virgin Atlantic A330 Returns To Origin 40 Minutes Into 8-Hour JFK Flight

Credit: Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock Published Sep 18, 2026, 10:37 AM EDT Sign in to your Simple Flying account This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.* Last updated Friday, September 18, 2026, 10:50 AM EST by Jake Hardiman * Safely On The Ground Friday, September 18, 2026, 10:50 AM EST Credit: Simple Flying Around 40 minutes after takeoff, the aircraft, which was operating flight VS127 and bears the registration G-VSXY and the name 'Beauty Queen,' is safely back on the ground in Manchester. It approached from the northeast following a TUI flight from Alicante and an easyJet flight from Lisbon, both of which had also circled near Ashton-in-Makerfield on the way. Simple Flying has contacted Virgin for comment. A Virgin Atlantic Airbus A330-300 is squawking 7700 shortly after departing Manchester Airport (MAN) bound for New York JFK Airport (JFK). The aircraft appears to have entered a hold ahead of a return to Manchester. Many Airbus A330-300s are unable to dump fuel, so must fly in order to burn fuel and bring their weight down ahead of landing.