Virgin Atlantic flight VS059 from Los Angeles declared a medical emergency over the UK, forcing an expedited early landing at London Heathrow Airport

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A Virgin Atlantic flight from Los Angeles was forced to declare an emergency upon entering British airspace.

The crew aboard the Airbus A350-1000 issued a Squawk 7700 — the internationally recognised code for a general emergency — while cruising at 39,000 feet, owing to a “serious medical situation” involving a passenger, according to reports.

The aircraft made an expedited descent towards London Heathrow Airport, AirLive reports. Having departed Los Angeles International Airport at 3.41pm on Monday, the plane touched down at London Heathrow at 10.06am on Tuesday — approximately 10 minutes ahead of its scheduled arrival, reports the Mirror.

The flight crew notified air traffic control, who authorised priority landing clearance. The aircraft commenced a swift descent towards the airport, where emergency services and ground personnel are believed to have been positioned in readiness.

A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: “Flight VS8 from Los Angeles which departed on Monday 20th April, requested a priority landing on approach to London Heathrow due to a customer becoming unwell onboard.

“The flight landed safely at 10:06am on Tuesday 21st April, where medical assistance was arranged on arrival. The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is always our top priority, and we apologise for any concern caused.”

Donald Trump has pleaded with Iran to release eight women who are set to be executed after anti-regime protests.

Taking to Truth Social, he wrote: ‘To the Iranian leaders, who will soon be in negotiations with my representatives: I would greatly appreciate the release of these women.

‘I am sure that they will respect the fact that you did so. Please do them no harm! Would be a great start to our negotiations!!!’

Not all of the women in the photo have been identified, but one is confirmed to be Bita Hemmati, a protester who was arrested after campaigning against the government in January.

She’s accused of using explosives and weapons, throwing objects, participating in protests and ‘disrupting national security.

Diana Taherabadi, 16, is also featured in the photo. She was detained in February for taking part in protests.

Mahboudeh Shabani, 33, and Ensieh Nejati are also featured. All of the women in the photo are facing death by hanging for their part in anti-regime protests.

Trump has signalled that sparing the women from death could aid Iran in upcoming peace talks, which are reaching the 11th hour before his ceasefire ‘deadline’ of 8pm Washington time tomorrow.

But the fate of those arrested in Iran in January and February’s anti-regime protests is hanging in the balance.

Previously, a shopkeeper who was on the brink of being executed in Iran for his role in the anti-regime protests was released on bail after Trump threatened to attack the country.

Erfan Soltani, 26, faced the death penalty after being detained during mass protests in January.

Iranian authorities appeared to make a U-turn after the President threatened to strike the country if they executed prisoners, but this was before the war began.

Last-minute talks between the United States and Iran are looking increasingly uncertain, as both countries warned that without a deal, they were prepared to resume fighting.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance, expected to lead US negotiators if talks continue in Pakistan, remained in Washington on Tuesday, a White House official said.

And Pakistan, which has been urging both sides to return to Islamabad, said it was still awaiting confirmation on whether Iran would participate.

Earlier today, Trump said he is ready to renew attacks against Iran if progress is not made with the US military ‘raring to go’.

The American president also told CNBC he did not want to extend a ceasefire with Tehran as the deadline on the two-week truce looms.

He insisted the US was in a strong position and was ‘going to end up with a great deal’.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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I’m A Celebrity star Aitch is the latest star to face tough questions on ITV’s The Assembly

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Former I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! star Aitch has shared an update after recent romance rumours.

The 26-year-old rapper is the latest famous face to take on ITV‘s The Assembly, as the bold interview series continues to air its second series.

The extended run also features appearances from national treasure Sir Stephen Fry, former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, comedy legend Sir Lenny Henry, and actor Anna Maxwell Martin. A sixth and final celebrity will be confirmed at a later date.

The celebrities face a no-holds-barred range of questions that no chat show, press junket or even parliamentary grilling has ever dared to ask.

Aitch’s episode will air on ITV1 at 10.05pm on Wednesday (April 22). During the instalment, the star is put on the spot about EastEnders actress Shona McGarty.

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Aitch came in fourth place in the recent series of I’m A Celebrity in Australia, while Shona placed in third. Rumours of a romance between the pair began swirling whilst the show was on air, after Aitch admitted to having a “soft spot” for Shona.

Shona later addressed the claims directly, saying: “I mean, I’m like over 10 years older than him, and also honestly the rumours are rubbish. He is like my little brother, I was like his older sister, and we just had the same energy level. We were hyper and silly, and that’s why we got on.”

During the upcoming episode of The Assembly, a woman called Jodie asked Aitch: “You know you was in the jungle? Do you like spiders?”

Aitch replied: “I could deal with it… I didn’t like spiders yeah, but when you’re in the jungle, you’re so hungry.”

Jodie then asked Aitch if he liked EastEnders, with the rapper saying: “I know where this is going!”

“I only really know two characters in EastEnders,” he went on, with Jodie noting: “Yeah, Whitney! Why were you flirting [with her]?”

Aitch said: “I wasn’t flirting with her.” Issuing an update, the star then revealed: “I’ve not gone out with her, no.”

Elsewhere in the episode, Aitch opened up about his sister, Gracie, who has Down’s syndrome. He also revealed that he beat up a boy in college after he made fun of his sister.

“One time actually, he was pretending to be me rapping and then said a line about my sister that I didn’t really like. And if you want me to keep it absolutely real with everyone, I [saw] him a couple days after in college, and I absolutely f***** him up,” Aitch candidly shared.

“I definitely [don’t] condone no violence, but no one can say that about anyone’s brother or sister… One person, and he’ll never do it again, I promise you that.”

The Assembly and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! are both available to stream on ITVX

The Joiners Arms in Hunwick was visited by the TV personality and her camera crew while filming in the village in February.

It came during filming for her new ITV show, ‘How To Clean Up Your House For Cash’, which aired on Monday night (April 20). It sees Josie sneak into family homes, box up their unwanted items, and uncover their hidden value.

Ian Richardson, 54, who owns and runs the pub, said the atmosphere that night was “very lively”.

Josie Gibson with staff from The Joiners Arms (Image: The Joiners Arms)

He said: “The pub was really busy that evening, and they even brought the cameras up as well.

“It was a lovely weekend overall. Everyone was really nice, including Josie and the rest of the crew.”

The Quarry Tea House in Hunwick also had a visit from the TV star as she tried some bakes and sweet treats.

Mr Richardson, who has run the pub since taking over from his parents in 2002, said the visit had initially been kept secret while filming took place.

He said: “We were told to keep it quiet at the time because it was a new programme, but as the programme aired last night, I shared the news on Facebook and the response has been amazing.”

During her visit, the former Big Brother star tried out some local ales.

The 54-year-old said: “She came in asking for a local beer. I didn’t have one on at the time, so I gave her something different and showed her the glass.

“If you can ‘split the B’, you get a free pint, and she managed to do it, which was impressive. She even took drinks over to the rest of the group and got them to try, but they couldn’t manage it.”

The County Durham pub is no stranger to being visited by TV stars.

Broadcaster Zoe Ball also filmed in Hunwick earlier this year, with the programme ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ which is expected to air in the coming weeks.

Ian said putting Hunwick on the map will be “amazing” for businesses in the village.

Owner of the The Joiners Arms with Zoe Ball (Image: The Joiners Arms)

Owner of the The Joiners Arms with Zoe Ball (Image: The Joiners Arms)

He said: “It’s really tough running a business at the moment, so anything that brings people in and supports the pub is a good thing.

“The village also has a great cricket club and a working men’s club too. We all try to help each other out like proper villages do.

“We have a great community spirit here, so it’s been amazing to put it on the map.”

Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments

‘War criminal and sexist bigot’ gets away with depocuting himself as Jesus, reader says

I can’t believe that there isn’t a huge backlash in the US to Donald Trump depicting himself as Jesus – sorry, as a ‘doctor’ – in an AI image he posted.

When John Lennon came out with the harmless ‘Beatles are bigger than Jesus’ comment in 1966, there was an outcry, with public burnings of records, paraphernalia etc and death threats, yet this war criminal and sexist bigot gets away with it. Where’s the justice? Get him out, now.John Coyne, Leeds.

I found myself at odds with Stuart Dew, who praised Pablo O’Hana’s column in support of Pope Leo XIV (MetroTalk, Fri).

O’Hana wrote in support of the pontiff’s calls for peace in the face of Trump’s war on Iran. I’m nominally a Catholic, so take a natural interest in what Pope Leo says.

The first task of a Christian leader should be to defend the faith and its followers. Christianity is under vicious attack on many fronts, globally. And yet neither the Pope – nor Anglican Archbishop Sarah Mullally – show much enthusiasm for acting as vigorous ‘defenders of the faith’.

Regarding the conduct of armed conflicts, including the Iran War, I would certainly expect informed comment and moral guidance from all religious leaders.

But this should also reflect the context of the conflict. While I oppose Trump’s disastrous path, I also note the vile nature of the Iranian regime, its unceasing threats against Israel and the wider West, and its murderous treatment of its own citizens. Stuart Dew writes of Christian leaders as ‘our chaps’. I don’t feel quite so chummy, but I do respect them.

However, they need to be more circumspect and reflect the wider global picture. Simon Goddard, Solihull

Why hasn’t Trump been clear about his intentions?

John (MetroTalk, Mon) says the reason for Trump’s war on Iran is its nuclear ambitions. Wasn’t its nuclear capability obliterated a few months ago? Why hasn’t Trump been clear about his intentions? Pedro, Hammersmith

‘How on earth can Sir Keir Starmer say he had no idea what Mandelson was like?’

With regards to the vetting and overall scuttlebutt over Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US despite his friendship to the late paeodophile Jeffrey Epstein, how on earth can Sir Keir Starmer say he had no idea what Mandelson was like?

There are undiscovered tribes in the Amazonian rainforest who knew Mandelson was a wrong ’un. Martin Lawrence, South Croydon

Stop ‘fuss’ over Prince Harry, says reader

So Prince Harry and his wife are not considered as ‘working royals’ but as ‘private citizens’. So why all the fuss and reporting of their Australian trip? After all, nothing was reported of my two trips to Australia and New Zealand as a ‘private citizen’. Keep ’em out of it! Rob, York

Tube strikes are ‘regaular’

This year’s annual RMT industrial action is here (Metro, Mon). It’s so regular it’s surprising it doesn’t appear on calendars.

Each Tube strike and the way they are metered out appears specifically designed to create the upmost disruption for the fare-paying public. Isn’t it about time the RMT changed their stance to the model of industrial action used by the Japanese, whereby rather than close the service on strike days they run a full service but open all barriers, making transport free?

I’m fed up with being held over a barrel because the staff running the service have a grievance with their management. Mark Longman, London

Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments

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A total of 42 proposals to change existing traffic regulation orders (TROs), including double yellow lines and residential parking (ResPark) restrictions, are set to be considered for approval.

A City of York Council report stated the proposals had been drawn up in response to issues including parking on footpaths, obstructing bus routes and other safety concerns.

It added there was a risk that some of the proposals would create issues for other residents if they are approved.

It comes after the council advertised a total of 85 proposed restriction changes in October.

The 43 proposals that did not receive any objections are set to be enacted, with the remaining 42 set to be decided at a transport hearing on Tuesday, April 28.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Streets where restrictions are proposed by ward:

The listed restrictions are for no waiting at any time (double yellow lines) unless otherwise stated.

Acomb

• Ouseburn Avenue between Wheatlands Grove and Boroughbridge Road.
• Danebury Drive at the junction with Wetherby Road.

Bishopthorpe

• Copmanthorpe Lane, at the junction with Appleton Court.

Clifton

• Bede Avenue.
• Field View, between Burton Stone Lane and Tennyson Avenue.
• Tennyson Avenue.

Dringhouses and Woodthorpe

• Nelson’s Lane.
• Nidd Grove.
• Wain’s Road between the junction with Chaloners Road and Trent Way.
• Hunters Way at the junction with Middlethorpe Grove.

Fulford and Heslington

• Crosslands Road.
• Fordlands Road between the Germany Lane and Main Street junctions.
• Heslington Lane between the junction with Fulfordgate and existing zebra crossing and school keep clear restrictions.
• Heslington Lane between the footpath after Barmby Avenue up to and including the junctions of Nevison Grove and Stirling Grove on the north side and between Heslington Croft and Heath Moor Drive on the south side and at the junction with Wilsthorpe Grove.
• Fulfordgate opposite the junction with Eastward Avenue

Guildhall

• Maplehurst Avenue.
• Huntington Mews south side.
• Thomas Street west side.
• Lansdowne Terrace west side.

Haxby and Wigginton

• Hall Rise and no waiting between 8.30am and 9.30am and 3pm and 4pm Monday to Friday (single yellow lines) in Station Road.
• Headland Close.
• Mill Lane from the junctions with Wigginton Drive and Windsor Drive.
• Moor Lane between The Village and Oaken Grove junctions.
• Oaken Grove at the entrance to Haxby and Wigginton Cemetery.

Heworth Without

• Straylands Grove and Woodlands Grove bend.
• Whitby Avenue between the Whitby Drive junctions.

Holgate

• Acomb Road south side between the New Lane and Murray Street junctions.
• Berkley Terrace’s junctions with Linton Street and Amberley Street, Garland Street’s junctions with Linton Street and Winchester Avenue and Chatsworth Terrace’s junctions with Linton Street and Amberley Street.
• Barlow Street’s junctions with Inman Terrace and Dodgson Street.
• Martins Court south side by bin access.

Huntington and New Earswick 

• Avon Drive between Strensall Road and Crinan Road.
• Strensall Road and Linton Close junction.

Micklegate

• Knavesmire Road at Knavesmire Crescent junction and Campleshon Road from Knavesmire Crescent to Albemarle Road.
• Queens Staith.

Rawcliffe and Clifton Without

• Eastholme Drive between and including Grasmere Grove and Shelley Grove junctions.
• Arlington Road junction with Tatton Close and bend opposite.

Rural West

Strensall

Westfield

• Chapelfields Road and Barkston Avenue junction.
• Wetherby Road north side between Bland Lane and Briar Avenue.

Wheldrake

• Church Lane in Elvington, bend by Holy Trinity Church.
• River View junction with York Road in Naburn.

Channel 4’s 24 Hours in Police Custody: The Cold Case Murder has been exploring the brutal killing of 86-year-old retired postmistress in Cambridgeshire

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Viewers of 24 Hours in Police Custody: The Cold Case Murder have been left devastated by a recent investigation.

The two-part Channel 4 documentary examined an unsolved case surrounding the death of an 86-year-old woman.

Retired postmistress Una Crown was killed in 2013, with a neighbour discovering her body at her Cambridgeshire bungalow.

The widow had been found with stab wounds to her neck and chest, and her clothing had been set on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence and conceal the full severity of her injuries.

The distressing case is being examined in 24 Hours in Police Custody, after the investigation was reopened with DNA evidence and new forensic techniques uncovering male DNA beneath her fingernails, reports the Mirror.

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The Channel 4 synopsis teases: “The unsolved case of the brutal murder of 86-year-old Una Crown in 2013 is re-opened.

“Police think they know the identity of the killer but will the science back them up?”

It continues: “Forensics get a partial DNA match to a previous suspect, and the police decide to arrest him. But after 13 years of denial will he finally confess?”

Viewers were moved to tears by the two-part documentary, with one sharing on Reddit: “I watched part 1 last week and then just finished part 2 on my lunch break at work, which I severely regret as it made me ball my eyes out at the end. This is up there as one of the worst for me. That poor woman and her family.”

They later responded to another user’s comment: “Absolutely outrageous they tried to say it was accidental given the state she was found in. Horrific.”

One user remarked: “I’ll be honest, a lot of episodes of that show have reduced me to tears,” while another wrote: “I agree, it was just so awful.”

A further commenter added: “yes, it was and is an awful travesty of justice.”

Another wrote: “That episode will haunt me. The idea that she was just watching TV with her cosy blanket when she heard him enter the house with a key.. Which he had kept since he helped with her broken lock. And that he went to the house drunk and it was sexually motivated. Then he thought he’d got away with it for a decade, still living in the same neighborhood. Terrifying.”

One more user stated: “I am in shock how much they screwed it up. that poor lady and her family, heartbreaking.”

24 Hours in Police Custody: The Cold Case Murder is available to watch on Channel 4.

The applicant describes the site as a ‘very accessible’ location

More than 30 new flats could be built near a Cambridgeshire village railway station. GCR Camprop Fifteen Ltd has proposed to change an office building into 32 flats on Station Road in Shepreth.

The buildings have been used as offices for a “significant period of time”. If approved, the flats would be a mix of studios and one-bedroom flats.

They would also be in “close proximity to Shepreth Railway Station”. The applicant described it as a “highly suitable location”.

The applicant added: “The site is located adjacent to Shepreth Train Station. The site is therefore very accessible from London and Cambridge. Cambridge to Shepreth typically takes 13 to 16 minutes which makes travel by rail a very desirable option.

“The new Cambridge South Station will also make the site more accessible from south Cambridge, southern fringe development areas and connect the site with Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. It is expected that residents would choose the location for its excellent rail links and would not be reliant on car travel.”

There are several mature trees near Station Road, as well as mature hedging which separates neighbouring properties. The applicant said these will keep the flats “well shielded and enclosed”.

It is believed that the development will not have an impact on the local highway network, according to a transport technical note produced by the applicant. It will also not result in any significant change to traffic. The site is also within flood zone one, meaning there is a very low flood risk.

Ronnie O’Sullivan has taken a giant step towards a mouth-watering second round match against fellow 50-year-old John Higgins with a highly impressive start to his quest for an eighth world snooker title.

Despite initially heading for the wrong table on his return to the Crucible, O’Sullivan looked instantly back at home following a mixed season spent largely outside of England that has contained recent hints of a return to form.

O’Sullivan raced to a 5-0 lead before sharing the final four frames of the opening session of his first round match against China’s He Guoqiang to lead 7-2 ahead of the conclusion on Wednesday afternoon. 

Although O’Sullivan did reach the semi-final last year, he looked bereft of confidence with what was a new cue before being comprehensively outplayed by the eventual winner Zhao Xintong.

Despite another year and a few more grey hairs, it was instantly obvious that O’Sullivan arrives in Sheffield this year rather happier with both his form and chances of moving clear of Stephen Hendry to become the only eight-times world champion in the modern era.

It helped that Guoqiang missed a series of early chances in what was a wide open match, but O’Sullivan’s usual break building fluency was crucially also matched by some well struck long pots and clearances when the balls were not always invitingly placed. 

The early burst of frames included breaks of  72, 97 and 113 before Guoqiang’s brief fightback was halted by further runs of 52 and 86.

Should O’Sullivan complete the expected victory, the second round will be a rerun of the final against Higgins exactly 25 years ago, which he won 18-14 to win his first world title.

Higgins and Mark Williams, the third 50-plus member of the Class ‘92, are respectively going for their fifth and fourth world title.

Although O’Sullivan has now slipped furthest down the rankings, that is largely explained by his much more limited tournament schedule. There have been encouraging signs in recent months, however, with O’Sullivan following up his 153 total clearance in the International Open in China with a resounding victory against Higgins in the final of the invitational John Virgo Trophy in Ireland last week.