Plane's engines 'failed to respond'

The flight had been normal until that point but the Boeing 777 "descended rapidly and struck the ground some 1,000ft short of the paved runway surface, just inside the airfield boundary fence", the report from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said.

The report went on: "At approximately 600ft and two miles from touch down, the autothrottle demanded an increase in thrust from the two engines but the engines did not respond.

"Following further demands for increased thrust from the autothrottle, and subsequently the flight crew moving the throttle levers, the engines similarly failed to respond.

"The aircraft speed reduced and the aircraft descended onto the grass short of the paved runway surface."

The report was released shortly after the captain who commanded the plane spoke of the teamwork and professionalism of his cockpit and cabin crew.

Father-of-three Peter Burkill said BA staff were trained to deal with emergencies and to follow procedures. He said flying was about teamwork and he praised the "high standard of skill and professionalism" by the crew of flight BA038.

He also revealed that John Coward, his first officer - or co-pilot - was at the controls as the Boeing 777 came in to land.

British Airways staff cheered as the pilots, the plane's cabin services director Sharron Eaton-Mercer and BA chief executive Willie Walsh appeared at the airline's Heathrow headquarters for the brief statement from Mr Burkill.