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Latest: Investigation launched after plane crash lands at Heathrow
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| Damage caused to the plane during the emergency landing Pic: PA |
A formal investigation has been launched after a plane crash landed at Heathrow this afternoon.
The plane crash landed short of the runway at the airport narrowly missing a busy road and leaving massive skidmarks in the grass.
Reports suggest the plane suffered single engine failure, loss of hydraulics and was running on one engine.
An airport source said it was lucky not to have come down over London.
Investigation
BA's chief executive, Willie Walsh, told a press conference today a formal investigation was being carried out by the air accident branch of the Department for Transport.
He said it would be inappropriate to speculate on the likely cause of the incident, but praised the efforts of the flight crews and the emergency services.
"Enormous bang"
John Rowland, a Hounslow cab driver on his way to the airport, told the BBC: "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.
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| The plane crash landed short of the runway Pic: PA |
"It crashed into the runway, debris was flying everywhere, there was an enormous bang and it skidded sideways."
The plane hit the ground several hundred yards short of the southern runway, severely damaging the undercarriage, wings and engines.
Six injured
Six people were injured in the emergency landing.
A spokesman for the ambulance service said there were eight ambulances at Heathrow and six passengers had been taken to nearby Hillingdon Hospital with minor injuries.
She could not give details of the type of injuries the passengers suffered.
Southern runway reopened
The airport's southern runway was closed immediately after the incident but has now been re-opened for take-offs.
The northern runway is operating for arriving aircraft.
Emergency chutes
Eyewitness reports say passengers escaped down the emergency chutes after British Airways flight BA38 from Beijing came down.
The incident caused the delay of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's flight to China.
British Airways has confirmed that a Boeing 777 operating flight BA038 was involved in an incident at Heathrow.
Patrick Spink from British Airways press office said the planes are the newest in the company's fleet. He was unable to confirm the cause of the crash.
British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh said: "We are very proud of the way our crew safely evacuated all 136 passengers on board with only three minor injuries."
There were three flight crew and 13 cabin crew on board.
In a statement, the Civil Aviation Authority said: "The incident will be investigated by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch of the Department for Transport and the CAA is offering assistance to all organisations involved."
London Fire Brigade is currently attending the incident after being called at 12.43pm.
A spokesman said: "No fire has been reported and fire crews are standing by."
BA has set up a helpline for friends and relatives on 0800 3894193.
Flights cancelled
Some short and long-haul British Airways flights have been cancelled, particularly any departing from Terminal 4.
Customers are advised to check the status of their flight before they leave for the airport.
In total the airport has said 91 flights had been cancelled by 3.30pm.
For airport and local travel information click here
Did you see the landing? Leave your comments below or send your video clips to dmenhinnitt@london.newsquest.co.uk.
2:09pm Thursday 17th January 2008
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CommentPosted by: Sandy Gall, Hounslow on 10:47am Fri 18 Jan 08
We were having tea in the parlour listening to the world service on the wireless when this plane flew over.
I was shocked and said to my wife "There an airport over there". She was extremely angry because the estate agent made no mention of it when we bought the house 10 years ago.
We were having tea in the parlour listening to the world service on the wireless when this plane flew over.
I was shocked and said to my wife "There an airport over there". She was extremely angry because the estate agent made no mention of it when we bought the house 10 years ago.
Posted by: Richard Tobin, Wellingborough UK on 2:26pm Fri 18 Jan 08
One possible cause of flight BA038 Boeing 777 to shut down and lose power would be that, having flown so close to Mr George Brown’s motorcade approaching the airport the aircraft apparently passed his Jaguar as close as 25ft, the transmission of an security electromagnetic jamming signal of the type used to block mobile phones, wireless controlled devices and such, could have substantially interfered with the aircraft’s electronic systems.
One possible cause of flight BA038 Boeing 777 to shut down and lose power would be that, having flown so close to Mr George Brown’s motorcade approaching the airport the aircraft apparently passed his Jaguar as close as 25ft, the transmission of an security electromagnetic jamming signal of the type used to block mobile phones, wireless controlled devices and such, could have substantially interfered with the aircraft’s electronic systems.
Posted by: steve on 3:47pm Fri 18 Jan 08
If electromagnetic interference (EMI) from security countermeasures protecting the PMs plane or motorcade have caused the loss of power to the BA 777, then it would be in line with this:
Elaine Scarry writes this on EMI:
http://www.physics.o
hio-state.edu/~wilki
ns/writing/Assign/to
pics/twa800-emi.htm
If electromagnetic interference (EMI) from security countermeasures protecting the PMs plane or motorcade have caused the loss of power to the BA 777, then it would be in line with this:
Elaine Scarry writes this on EMI:
http://www.physics.o
hio-state.edu/~wilki
ns/writing/Assign/to
pics/twa800-emi.htm
Posted by: Jock, London on 2:13pm Sat 19 Jan 08
[quote][bold]Richard Tobin[/bold] wrote:
One possible cause of flight BA038 Boeing 777 to shut down and lose power would be that, having flown so close to Mr George Brown’s motorcade approaching the airport the aircraft apparently passed his Jaguar as close as 25ft, the transmission of an security electromagnetic jamming signal of the type used to block mobile phones, wireless controlled devices and such, could have substantially interfered with the aircraft’s electronic systems.[/quote] The plane started experiencing problems at 600ft, so we can kiss these daft EMI theories goodbye.
Richard Tobin wrote:
One possible cause of flight BA038 Boeing 777 to shut down and lose power would be that, having flown so close to Mr George Brown’s motorcade approaching the airport the aircraft apparently passed his Jaguar as close as 25ft, the transmission of an security electromagnetic jamming signal of the type used to block mobile phones, wireless controlled devices and such, could have substantially interfered with the aircraft’s electronic systems.
The plane started experiencing problems at 600ft, so we can kiss these daft EMI theories goodbye.
Posted by: Hazel, London on 1:13pm Sun 20 Jan 08
Not sure we CAN entirely dismiss these theories. While it may not have been Gordon's Brown's motorcade that caused the crash, there are several in depth studies which point to EMI causing the sort of problems BA038 experienced and several involved 767s. It cannot be ruled out. On board EMI for example or even an large antennae on the ground might do it. The 777 is very digitised and the most likely type of plane to be affected by EMI.
Not sure we CAN entirely dismiss these theories. While it may not have been Gordon's Brown's motorcade that caused the crash, there are several in depth studies which point to EMI causing the sort of problems BA038 experienced and several involved 767s. It cannot be ruled out. On board EMI for example or even an large antennae on the ground might do it. The 777 is very digitised and the most likely type of plane to be affected by EMI.
Posted by: Devon Leslie, Scottish Borders on 3:13pm Wed 23 Jan 08
There is a working theory among my aviation friends that compromised fuel could be the culprit. If water had invaded the fuel supply at Beijing, there would have been no issues on takeoff or cruise (water freezes and seperates) until landing at which point the water would have polluted the remaining fuel causing terribly sluggish behaviour. A combination of bad fuel and bad luck may have caused this accident. We should consider the origin of this near-fatal journey as well.
There is a working theory among my aviation friends that compromised fuel could be the culprit. If water had invaded the fuel supply at Beijing, there would have been no issues on takeoff or cruise (water freezes and seperates) until landing at which point the water would have polluted the remaining fuel causing terribly sluggish behaviour. A combination of bad fuel and bad luck may have caused this accident. We should consider the origin of this near-fatal journey as well.
Posted by: Devon Leslie, Scottish Borders on 3:23pm Wed 23 Jan 08
Steve, TWA800 was caused by inappropriate use of the aircraft's rudder at high speed which literally ripped the tail off. Bad training and inexperience caused the TWA800 crash, nothing more.
Steve, TWA800 was caused by inappropriate use of the aircraft's rudder at high speed which literally ripped the tail off. Bad training and inexperience caused the TWA800 crash, nothing more.
Posted by: henderson, Colombo on 3:19pm Sat 16 Feb 08
[quote][bold]Devon Leslie[/bold] wrote:
Steve, TWA800 was caused by inappropriate use of the aircraft's rudder at high speed which literally ripped the tail off. Bad training and inexperience caused the TWA800 crash, nothing more. [/quote] TWA800 exploded due to a spark in its center tank. Tail was ripped off on the AA587.
Devon Leslie wrote:
Steve, TWA800 was caused by inappropriate use of the aircraft's rudder at high speed which literally ripped the tail off. Bad training and inexperience caused the TWA800 crash, nothing more.
TWA800 exploded due to a spark in its center tank. Tail was ripped off on the AA587.
Posted by: peter, London on 6:42pm Mon 19 May 08
[quote][bold]Hazel[/bold] wrote:
Not sure we CAN entirely dismiss these theories. While it may not have been Gordon\\\'s Brown\\\'s motorcade that caused the crash, there are several in depth studies which point to EMI causing the sort of problems BA038 experienced and several involved 767s. It cannot be ruled out. On board EMI for example or even an large antennae on the ground might do it. The 777 is very digitised and the most likely type of plane to be affected by EMI. [/quote] Hazel: Any further thoughts on this issue?
Hazel wrote:
Not sure we CAN entirely dismiss these theories. While it may not have been Gordon's Brown's motorcade that caused the crash, there are several in depth studies which point to EMI causing the sort of problems BA038 experienced and several involved 767s. It cannot be ruled out. On board EMI for example or even an large antennae on the ground might do it. The 777 is very digitised and the most likely type of plane to be affected by EMI.
Hazel: Any further thoughts on this issue?
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