Boeing 777, British Airways crash land at Heathrow

Updates…

Two engines on the British Airways plane that crash-landed at Heathrow Airport “did not respond” to a demand for increased thrust about two miles from touchdown, an initial report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch said Friday.

The report describes the Boeing 777 hitting problems 600 feet off the ground and descending rapidly, just making it onto Heathrow land.

The report says: “Initial indications from [crew] interviews and Flight Recorder analyses show the flight and approach to have progressed normally until the aircraft was established on late finals for Runway 27L.

“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 came out as the jet’s captain praised John Coward, his senior flight officer, who was at the controls at the time of the incident. As the Boeing 777 approached Heathrow’s south runway, it appears to have lost power, forcing the emergency landing.

Captain Peter Burkill made a public statement Friday praising his crew, especially Coward, who did a “most remarkable job.”

“Flying is about teamwork, and we had an outstanding team on board yesterday,” Burkill said.

“As captain of the aircraft, I am proud to say that every member of my team played their part expertly.

“I want to thank the passengers, too, for their calmness and good sense in extremely unfamiliar circumstances. I wish those who suffered injury a speedy and complete recovery.”

BAA Heathrow, owner and operator of the airport, said earlier that 53 flights — mainly short-haul — had been canceled. It said it was working to restore “near-normal” operations.

The flight, BA38, was arriving in London from Beijing, China, when it reportedly lost power. The jet was still on the tarmac Friday.

Retired 747 captain Mike Giles, who has also flown the Boeing 777, said it was extremely rare for an aircraft to lose two engines within seconds of each other. There is no way in this world that birds would stop two engines within seconds of each other,” he said. “If it comes out as a ‘bird strike’ on both engines, I would be absolutely amazed. I would be astounded.”

The plane may have hit a flock of birds, he said, but even then, “the chances of it stopping the engine dead, and a flock of birds stopping both engines at the same time, I think are a million to one.

“The situation must have occurred very late with the landing sequence because they didn’t have time to tell passengers to get in the brace position, and they didn’t have time to call the tower.”

*** The full report of that incident click here

An international passenger plane has crash landed short of the runway at Heathrow Airport. Passengers escaped down the emergency chutes after British Airways flight BA038 from Beijing came down.

All 136 passengers on board the Boeing 777 were evacuated, with reports of four people suffering minor injuries.

The incident happened as Prime Minister Gordon Brown was due to leave Heathrow for China and India. His flight was delayed because of the incident.

The south runway is closed while investigators examine the scene - the north runway remains open.

Eyewitness John Rowland said: “The plane’s wheels collapsed, doors were flown open.

“On its approach it took the runway too low, just missing the roof of my cab.

“It crashed into the runway, debris was flying everywhere, there was an enormous bang and it skidded sideways.”

BA said the cabin crew had done an “excellent job” evacuating passengers, and that it would release more information as soon as it was available.

The undercarriage, left wing and left engine of the aircraft appeared severely damaged, as if it had skidded across the ground. At least one of the plane’s wheels had been torn off.

Tire tracks hundreds of meters long could be seen in the grass behind the plane, which was surrounded by fire engines and other emergency vehicles and had been doused in fire-fighting foam.

• British Airways has set up helpline numbers for friends and relatives concerned for passengers involved in the incident:

From inside the UK: 0800 389 4193.
From outside the UK: +44 191 211 3690