United Airlines plane diverts to Heathrow for de-icing 90 minutes after taking off from Brussels

Free-flowing drinks and majestic views of the American Rockies: Is this the most spectacular train ride in the world?
Want to find out how good a hotel can be? Inside the hyper-luxurious Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris, which has a staggering SIX Michelin stars between three restaurants (and an interior that resembles a palace)
Idyllic beach breaks: Discover the best of the Mediterranean with this month's top hotel picks… from an Algarve beauty to a Turkish hideaway
Budget safari... priceless encounters: An exhilarating night in Uganda in a two-man TENT, with a toilet full of baboons and a nerve-shredding big-cat visitor to the campsite
Miami is hotter than ever! Here's what to do in America's most exciting city including where to watch Lionel Messi have a kickabout
Palma for under £100 a night! Mallorca's charming capital offers glorious architecture and a vibrant food scene
Fly in a 'palace in the sky' - for 'economy cabin' money: The Four Seasons private jet is now available for charter - and it's yours for just £1,900 (if you share the cost)
America's tallest skyscraper Legends Tower WILL be built in Oklahoma City as construction gets green light to start within just two months - after shock last minute design change
With miles of Napoleonic-era canals to explore, boating through Brittany is just magnifique!
Pictured: The remarkable floating 'capsule resort' in Thailand that you can only reach by boat
Italian city brings in bizarre BAN on eating pizza and ice cream
Ten jet lag busters! Airline crew's tips to make long-haul travel a breeze - and a warning about sleeping pills
The 30 world's best budget hotels for under £100: From Art Deco buzz in north London to blissful balconies in Bali (and a very surprising venue in Berlin)
The best places to stay... in the WORLD: Four UK B&Bs make the global top 10 in 2024 Tripadvisor awards, the No.1 hotel overall is in Brazil and Santa Monica property is declared top in America
RICHARD EDEN: Our beach break in Egypt was cheap compared to the Med with apartments under £100 per night and family meals costing just £30
Moment out-of-control 700ft cruise ship desperately tries to slow down before crunching into dock at Turkish port
Wish you were hair? The best places to book a holiday if you don't want your locks to go frizzy - thanks to soft water, low humidity levels and gentle winds
Moment two bears grapple with each other in remarkable scrap captured on camera in national park
Florida woman who lives on a 39FT catamaran with her husband and their DOG reveals the wildest things about life on the high seas - from how they shower to where their pup POOPS
Experience the bustling cities of Thailand, spot lions in the wild in South Africa and experience pure escapism in Mauritius: These are the trips trending right now that you NEED to take
For a truly GREAT escape... visit Barbados, a blissful paradise blessed with 80 beautiful beaches, heavenly hotels and mouthwatering restaurants
Is WETHERSPOONS the answer to the Great British staycation problem? Costs of holidaying at home are spiralling… our favourite budget boozer could come to the rescue this summer
Put away your phone - and unleash your inner hobbit! The top 10 most wish-listed Airbnb 'Earth homes' around the UK, from cosy caves to a Viking longhouse and a secret retreat with on-site ducks and fairy pools
A bracing brush with Naples: On the eve of a rare UK Caravaggio show, follow in the artist's footsteps on a tour of his stunning spiritual home

Boeing 777-200 was flying from Brussels Airport to Washington, DC
Heathrow spokesman says plane diverted for additional de-icing
Aircraft was carrying 227 passengers and 14 crew when it diverted

Published: 10:58 EDT, 29 December 2014 | Updated: 11:18 EDT, 29 December 2014

e-mail

A United Airlines plane aborted its transatlantic journey and diverted to London today because the flight crew apparently wasn’t satisfied with the de-icing effort it received in Brussels.

The Boeing 777-200 was flying from Brussels Airport to Washington, DC, when it turned around and landed at Heathrow Airport at 1:20pm, less than 90 minutes after its departure.

A Heathrow spokesman told MailOnline Travel that the aircraft diverted to Europe’s busiest airport for additional de-icing.

A Heathrow spokesman said the aircraft diverted to the London airport for additional de-icing

This map shows the plane's flight path to Heathrow Airport after circling the skies south of London

A spokesman for United Airlines said the plane was carrying 227 passengers and 14 crew when it landed in order to deal with a ‘mechanical issue’.

Shortly after the plane landed the spokesman said: ‘Our maintenance team is currently inspecting the aircraft.

‘We are making arrangements for our customers to complete their journeys.'

The Boeing 777-200 turned around over Wales and then flew over Bristol before landing at Heathrow

A United Airlines spokesman says the plane was carrying 227 passengers and 14 crew to Washington

The spokesman added: ‘We regret any inconvenience experienced by our customers.’

A flight radar map showed the plane flying south of Swindon before turning around over Wales and flying over Bristol.

It then flew south over Reading and circled over Surrey before landing at Heathrow.

During the de-icing process chemicals are sprayed onto a plane’s surface to remove snow, ice or frost and prevent a build-up that can disrupt a plane’s air flow and threaten a safe take-off.

Heathrow Airport