Death of Queen Elizabeth: Note of Queen’s death on flight

A British Airways cabin crew member has shared the “historical” note the pilot read out to inform passengers of the Queen’s death.

A British Airways cabin crew member has shared a note the pilot read out to inform passengers of the Queen’s death.

The A380 aircraft had just left London Heathrow and was en route to San Francisco when those on-board the flight learned Queen Elizabeth II had died, aged 96.

TikTok user and cabin crew staffer Lauren McMahon shared a clip of the note which read: “Attention all aircraft. To be read at your discretion. It is with great sadness we have learnt of the passing of Her Majesty the Queen. Our thoughts are with the royal family at this very difficult time.”

Lauren explained the pilot also gave “a little speech” about the Queen’s reign too.

Given the aircraft’s Wi-Fi wasn’t working, Lauren said the note was a “lovely gesture” to inform passengers of the Queen’s passing.

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The note a British Airways pilot read to passengers. Picture: TikTok/laurenmcmahon71093

The A380 was heading to San Francisco from London Heathrow. Picture: TikTok/laurenmcmahon71093

It was printed on-board the A380 through ACARS – a digital datalink system for transmission of short messages between aircraft and ground stations via airband radio or satellite.

A TikTok user commented saying the British Airways captain had “radioed Glasgow Airport asking if she passed around 3-4pm”.

“YES because we heard it through a passenger just as we were taking off! How did you know this?” Lauren responded.

Flight attendants on-board a separate British Airways flight who were also told about the Queen’s passing were seen breaking down in tears. Picture: YouTube/Storyful

The TikTok user said they work for Menzies ground handling and was in “ops when he radioed”.

“Thought he was calling for a diversion as we looked up the flight number on FR and seen it was a 380!”

“Haha oh! How cool! Well apparently at that point it hadn’t been announced!” Lauren replied.

Since sharing the clip two days ago, it has been viewed almost half a million times, attracting hundreds of comments.

Queen Elizabeth II died ‘peacefully’ at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on Thursday. Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage

“Wow didn’t know you all got news like that up in the sky – hold on to that paper, it’s part of history and how you witnessed it!” one person wrote.

“It’s crazy to see how they send you the news like this whilst on the plane. What a moment in time,” a second person commented.

A third said: “That piece of paper will be worth a few pennies in the future.”

Lauren said she managed to get her own copy of the note and will definitely be holding on to it.

It comes as another video went viral when a British Airways pilot announced the Queen’s death on-board his aircraft.