British Airways has been forced to apologise to passengers after they were mistakenly told they were going to crash into the sea.
The airline said an automated emergency message was played in error as the flight from Heathrow to Hong Kong was passing over the North Sea.
The passengers were told: "This is an emergency. We may shortly need to make an emergency landing on water."
Cabin crew on the Boeing 747 quickly reassured them that the message was a mistake and there was no emergency.
BA said the emergency message was triggered by a computer. A spokesman for the airline added: "We would like to apologise to passengers on board the flight for causing them undue distress.
"Our cabin crew immediately made an announcement following the message advising customers that it was played in error and that the flight would continue as normal."
By Linsey McNeill
