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How pilots saved BA jet
Dick Murray, Transport Editor20 May 2008
An investigation into the crash-landing of a Boeing 777 at Heathrow has revealed the actions of its captain and first officer prevented a far worse accident.
The internal British Airways probe shows that both officers managed to keep the plane in the air after it suffered a loss of power to its engines.
It showed that its captain, Peter Burkill, changed the angles of the plane's wing flaps in order to reduce the drag, helping the aircraft to maintain speed.
And senior first officer John Coward pushed the plane's nose towards the ground in order to accelerate before levelling out just before the Boeing crashed on to the grass.
Flight BA 38 from Beijing was extensively damaged when it touched down only metres inside the perimeter fence at Heathrow on 17 January.
All 136 passengers and 16 crew on the flight were safely evacuated from the wreckage. One person suffered a broken leg and others received minor injuries during the emergency evacuation.
An initial report into the crashlanding by the Air Accident Investigations Branch found the jet's engines failed to respond to demands for increased thrust from the crew two miles from touchdown.
Details of the BA report were not meant to be made public but have been leaked this morning.
The findings also suggested an emergency evacuation alarm was too quiet for some of the cabin crew to hear. Concerns about the volume of the evacuation alarm are being investigated in the official inquiry into the crash.
In the aftermath, the crew of the Boeing 777 said they were only doing their job in preventing a far greater accident. Mr Coward, who was hailed as a hero by his captain for his actions, told how he became aware of the power loss as the plane made its final approach to the airport.
Mr Coward said: "Suddenly there was nothing from any of the engines, and the plane started to glide.
"I didn't think we would clear the fence at first. As we landed, I was bracing myself for an enormous thud. But instead of one thud, there was a series of thuds as it bounced along the grass.
"Eventually it shuddered to a halt. While I was trying to stop the plane, I struggled to try and keep it in a straight line."
But despite being called a hero, he said: "I was only doing my job."
"The crew, the passengers and everyone else acted heroically. Flying is definitely all about teamwork and that is what we all displayed."
Although most of the passengers walked away from the accident with no injuries, some survivors are considering legal action against the airline.
Those traumatised by their experiences could claim up to £85,000 on a "no-fault" basis.
Reader views (3)
Anyone that sues after this miracle should be institutionalized for neurotic behaviour.
- A Hills, WDC, USA, 21/05/2008 07:25
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To Mr Nunn, what was God's part in the incident, saving the plane and passengers or cutting the engines?
- A Watt, Sydney Australia, 21/05/2008 00:36
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The two pilots reacted magnificently. Cabin crew and passengers did well. Relatively minor injuries and yet, without doubt, some greedy passengers will be after compensation instead of thanking God, and the pilots, that they were saved.
- Charles Nunn, Stanmore. Middlesex., 20/05/2008 15:10
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