Letters made me cry, says crash-land jet captain

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Captain Peter Burkill received more than 200 emails, letters and cards after his co-pilot John Coward guided the aircraft with 136 passengers on board to safety on 17 January.

Anelderly man who lives underneath the approach to Heathrow thanked Mr Burkill and his team for missing his house and a boy asked for his autograph and a model of the plane.

Replying by letter to the well-wishers Mr Burkill, 43, from Worcester, said: "I have always been a bit of a softy with my emotions; but it was unbelievable to receive so many wonderful words of congratulations."

He also received letters from passengers on the flight, which he said made him "shed a tear". Mr Burkill's three young sons have helped him return to normality, he said.

He added that when he saw them for the first time after the drama, he "couldn't stop hugging them". He said he was still restricted about what he could say. Mr Burkill concluded the letter: "My son, Troy, who will be three in March, was watching the news as it unfolded. After a while all he could say was 'my Daddy's a hero like Spiderman'."