Surviving a Crash Landing in London | British Airways Flight 38

Summary

On January 17, 2008, British Airways flight 38 from Beijing to London encountered a dramatic loss of thrust due to ice formation in the fuel system, causing an emergency landing at Heathrow. Despite strong winds and engine failure, the crew managed a safe touchdown, with 47 injuries but no fatalities. The incident, the first involving a Boeing 777, led to a two-year investigation by the AAIB, resulting in a redesigned fuel-ice filter and an award for the pilots.

Takeaways

• 📅 The incident occurred on January 17, 2008, involving British Airways flight 38 from Beijing to London.
• ✈️ The aircraft was a Boeing 777-200ER, delivered to British Airways in May 2001.
• 🚫 The plane was carrying 136 passengers and 16 crew members when the incident happened.
• 🌍 The flight path took the aircraft over Mongolia, Siberia, and Scandinavia, flying at altitudes between 34,800 and 40,000 feet.
• ❄️ The outside air temperature varied between -65°C and -74°C, which is extremely cold.
• 🔥 The crew monitored the fuel temperature to prevent it from freezing, which was not a problem as it did not drop below -34°C.
• 🛬 The plane was on autopilot as it approached London Heathrow Airport for landing.
• 🌬️ Strong winds buffeted the aircraft as it neared the airport, but the crew decided to keep it on autopilot.
• 🚨 A sudden loss of thrust in both engines occurred just before landing, causing an emergency situation.
• 🛑 The plane crash-landed short of the runway at Heathrow, with all 152 passengers surviving but 47 being injured.
• 🔍 The investigation took two years, with the final report issued by the AAIB in February 2010.
• 🧊 The cause was determined to be ice formation in the fuel line during the flight, which blocked the fuel flow to the engines.
• 🏅 The flight crew of BA38 was awarded the 'British Airways Safety Award' for their actions during the incident.

Q & A

What was the date of the incident involving British Airways Flight 38?

The incident occurred on January 17, 2008.

What was the route of British Airways Flight 38?

The flight was from Beijing to London.

What type of aircraft was British Airways Flight 38 using?

It was a Boeing 777-200ER.

When was the aircraft of British Airways Flight 38 delivered to the airline?

The aircraft was delivered to British Airways in May 2001.

What was the passenger capacity of the aircraft?

The aircraft had a capacity of 233 passengers.

How many passengers and crew members were on board during the incident?

There were 136 passengers and 16 crew members on board.

What was the flight path of BA Flight 38?

The flight path went through Mongolia, Siberia, and Scandinavia.

What was the altitude range of the flight during the incident?

The altitude ranged between 34,800 feet and 40,000 feet.

What was the temperature range the aircraft experienced during the flight?

The temperature ranged between -65°C and -74°C.

What precaution was taken regarding the fuel due to the cold temperatures outside?

The crew monitored the fuel temperature with the intention to descend to a lower and warmer altitude if there was a risk of the fuel freezing.

What was the outcome of the monitoring of the fuel temperature?

There was no need to descend as the fuel temperature did not drop below -34°C, far from the freezing point.

What was the final event that led to the crash of BA Flight 38?

The aircraft crash-landed short of runway 27L at London Heathrow Airport.

What was the outcome of the crash for the passengers and crew?

All 152 passengers survived, with 47 of them being injured, one severely.

What was the initial hypothesis for the cause of the crash?

The initial hypothesis was a glitch in the software within the computerized engine control system.

What did the final investigation by the AAIB conclude as the cause of the crash?

The AAIB concluded that ice had formed in the fuel pipe during the flight, which did not affect the system until the final moments when the increased fuel flow and high temperature forced the ice into the fuel, causing it to clog the fuel supply to the engines.

What was the consequence for the fuel system after the ice blockage?

The blockage reduced the fuel to the engines and caused a flameout.

What recognition did the crew of BA Flight 38 receive for their actions during the incident?

The crew of BA Flight 38 was awarded the 'British Airways Safety Medal'.