UPDATE: An hour or so after the incident, Virgin started responded to the many messages on Twitter.
ORIGINAL:
A Virgin Atlantic plane bound for Orlando from the UK had to make an emergency landing today after reports of smoke in the cabin.
Mainstream media reports that the aircraft on the flight number VS027 turned around over the English Channel and made a safe landing at its original airport, London Gatwick.
All quiet officially from Virgin Atlantic on its site and various social media profiles, despite numerous mentions on Twitter and a few pictures beginning to emerge of the aircraft on the runway with its chutes deployed.
A statement issued by the carrier confirms the Airbus A330-300 experienced a technical problem and the captain decided to evacuate the aircraft on the runway as a precautionary measure.
Once again, web-based flight tracking tools (this time courtesy of Plane Finder) have already shown the route the aircraft took after leaving LGW and its swift return.
The timing of the incident couldn't be worse for Virgin Atlantic, which chose today to reveal its intention to appeal against arch rivalBritish Airways being given clearance by the European Commission to buy BMI from Lufthansa for £172.5 million.