Cancelled flight - how to know reason for cancellation
Hi all,
My parents were due to fly JNB to LHR on the 14th May 2026 - BA0054. The flight was cancelled the day before and it was a nightmare to get them rerouted. Eventually they flew JNB - CPT - LHR. They are in their 70s and it was very stressful for them (they were coming for my graduation on the 16th May so there was time pressure)
Because of the last minute cancellation they applied for compensation via BA but were told the flight was cancelled due to “lightning strike checks, with the assigned aircraft taken out of service for repairs after being struck by lightning”. They are not well off financially and the compensation would have helped offset some of their travel costs.
I find this very suspicious as the flight was very empty and I suspect they cancelled it to save jet fuel costs.
Is there anyone that could check the ATC log to see if the cause for cancellation really was lightning strikes on that aircraft?
Thanks very much, any help much appreciated!