Blackout System Malfunctions on British Airways’ Tokyo–London Flight
On British Airways flight #BA6 from Tokyo Haneda to London Heathrow, operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner registered as G-ZBKC, the window dimming system on one side of the aircraft failed, leaving passengers exposed to direct sunlight for 14 hours.
Before departure, the crew identified a malfunction in the electrochromic windows. However, after maintenance teams were unable to resolve the issue, the aircraft continued with the flight as scheduled. Passengers were given tray liner papers to tape over the windows, and some attempted to cover the windows using safety cards.
Since flight #BA6 travels mostly over the Pacific Ocean and Canada, a significant portion of the journey takes place in daylight. Boeing 787 aircraft are equipped with electrochromic windows offering five levels of dimming, but even at maximum dimming, sunlight is not completely blocked. In this case, the complete failure of the system left passengers without any protection from the sun.
Passengers expressed discomfort over the situation and are considering seeking compensation from British Airways. It was emphasized that such a malfunction causes serious inconvenience, especially on a long, daylight-dominated route.
