A British Airways flight was forced to make an emergency landing at Cape Town International Airport after smoke was detected in the cockpit.
The Airbus A350 aircraft, which was bound for London, returned to Cape Town as a precautionary measure yesterday.
Emergency services responded swiftly to the incident, with city and airport teams coordinating their efforts.
All passengers were safely evacuated from the aircraft.
Flight BA58 had been in the air for almost two hours when the crew reported smoke in the cockpit.
The pilots made the decision to turn back to Cape Town International Airport as a precautionary measure.
Emergency response teams at the airport and across the city were placed on standby to assist when the aircraft returned.
The incident occurred on Wednesday evening during what should have been a routine flight to London.
JP Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security in the City of Cape Town, provided updates on social media about the emergency response.
He explained that the City's Fire and Rescue Services were called to support the "Phase 2 Emergency Response".
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Four major fire appliances were positioned and ready as the aircraft approached the airport.
Emergency personnel accompanied the plane to a designated parking area and passengers disembarked, according to officials.
Smith noted that Fire and Rescue Services remained on site until the situation was officially concluded.
An investigation is under way to determine the source of the smoke in the cockpit.
The technical issue that caused the issue remains unidentified at this time.
Authorities are expected to provide further updates as the investigation progresses.
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) confirmed the incident at Cape Town International Airport.
In a statement, ACSA said: "While the details surrounding the incident fall within the purview of the airline, we can confirm that all standard airport emergency protocols were immediately activated."
"Our emergency response teams, supported by all relevant stakeholders, were swiftly deployed in line with established safety procedures to manage the situation effectively and ensure the safety of all concerned."
ACSA added they continue to work closely with the airline and relevant authorities as the matter is assessed.
British Airways has been approached for comment.
