Amersham pilot Peter Burkill speaks after Heathrow Boeing crash (From This Is Local London)

Amersham pilot Peter Burkill speaks after Heathrow Boeing crash

10:22am Tuesday 9th February 2010 in

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A PILOT from Amersham today spoke of the moment he feared he would die after his plane crash-landed at Heathrow airport.

Captain Peter Burkill was speaking after an official report concluded the smash on January 17 2008 was probably caused by a build-up of ice in the fuel system – which meant the British Airways Boeing 777 lost power to both engines.

The jet was not covered by plane safety requirements at the time, the report said.

Captain Burkill, a former pupil at Chesham Preparatory School and Dr Challoner's Grammar School, and co-pilot John Coward were praised for their actions in preventing a bigger disaster.

Speaking to the BBC today, Captain Burkill said: “When we impacted to the ground it was hard, but a relief as well.

“I became a passenger. I wasn't a captain at that point. We were in an aircraft that was sliding along the ground uncontrollably.

“At that point I did think it might be my time to die, so I said goodbye to my wife.”

He added he “couldn't believe” the cockpit crew survived the horror crash “with no sign of injury”.

Captain Burkill added he left British Airways after the crash for “personal reasons”.

The report by the Air Accident Investigation Branch said Captain Burkill, whose parents still live in Chesham Bois, had just 43 seconds to react after becoming aware of a possible problem with the plane.

Captain Burkill, 45, said: “There was very little communication. I had no time to communicate my decisions with my crew – there were seconds to react.”

None of the 152 people on board the aircraft was seriously injured, despite there being no time for the flight crew to brief the cabin crew or issue a command for passengers to brace themselves, the report said.