Clarkson Integrator

Issue date: 1/21/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Marc-Antony Payne A British Airlines plane crashed in London's Heathrow Airport on Thursday. All 152 people on board made it out safely, thanks to the crew's professionalism.

On Thursday, January 17, a Boeing 777 passenger plane needed to make an emergency landing in London's Heathrow Airport. It made a dramatic landing by ripping out part of its undercarriage.

According to the British Airlines pilot, Peter Burkill, the plane lost all power without warning and he had to glide the plane into landing. It lost power just before it was due to land. Many of the crew and passengers call Burkill a hero for his quick thinking and professionalism. British Airlines is giving him as much time off as he needs.

Eyewitnesses said the plane flew in very low and landed short of the runway. Part of the undercarriage and two wheels were torn off. The wings sustained minor injuries. A large amount of fuel leaked from the airplane; however, there was no fire. The police say the incident was not terror-related.

All 136 passengers and 16 crewmembers made it out safely. Only 18 people needed to go to the hospital having sustained minor injuries, most of which were from whiplash. All air traffic came to a standstill while emergency teams cleaned up the runway. Britain's Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, was due to leave Heathrow Airport for China and India at the time of the accident. The damaged plane landed about 1,000 feet from Brown's plane. His flight was temporarily delayed.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch is currently looking into the BA038 crash. There are two cranes in position around the plane so they can get a look at the undercarriage. Theories about the crash include mechanical or electrical failure, birds flying into the wing, sudden wind change, and pilot error. None of the other 43 Boeing 777 planes have been grounded, since they have typically been an extremely reliable aircraft.

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