Surviving a Crash Landing in London | British Airways Flight 38

TheFlightChannel

10 Nov 201710:45

Summary

TLDROn 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'.

Outlines

00:00

🛫 Flight BA38: The Journey and the Freeze

The script describes British Airways Flight 38 from Beijing to London on January 17, 2008, aboard a Boeing 777-200ER. The plane, delivered to British Airways in May 2001, carried 136 passengers and 16 crew members. The flight path took them over Mongolia, Siberia, and Scandinavia, at altitudes ranging from 34,800 to 40,000 feet, where temperatures varied from -65°C to -74°C. The crew monitored the fuel temperature to prevent it from freezing, but no descent was necessary as the temperature did not fall below -34°C, the freezing point. Despite this, some moisture in the fuel did freeze. As the plane approached London's Heathrow Airport for landing, it was on autopilot, but strong winds buffeted the aircraft. The crew decided to stay on autopilot until just before landing, when the first officer took manual control.

05:31

🚨 Flight BA38: Engine Failure and Emergency Landing

As the flight prepared to land at Heathrow's runway 27L, a sudden issue arose: both engines lost power. The captain and first officer struggled to understand the situation as the engines did not respond. With the plane gliding towards the ground, the captain increased the flaps to reduce the descent rate, adjusting from 30 to 25 degrees. The aircraft had to clear the perimeter fence and airport antennas to avoid disaster. It ultimately crash-landed short of the runway, but all 152 passengers survived, with 47 injured, one seriously. This incident was the first hull loss involving a Boeing 777. The investigation took two years, with the final report issued in February 2010 by the AAIB. Initially suspected to be a software glitch, the actual cause was determined to be ice formation in the fuel pipe during the flight. The ice did not affect the flight until the end when increased fuel flow and high temperatures forced the ice into the fuel, causing a blockage and engine flameout. The fuel heat exchanger was redesigned in 2010, and the BA38 crew was awarded the 'British Airways Safety Award'.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Heathrow

Heathrow refers to London Heathrow Airport, which is one of the busiest airports in the world. In the context of the video, it is the intended destination for the British Airways flight 38. The script mentions 'Kekeliruan Heathrow' indicating a significant event that occurred during the flight's approach to Heathrow, which is central to the video's narrative.

💡British Airways 38

British Airways 38 is the flight number mentioned in the script. It represents a specific flight operated by British Airways from Beijing to London. The flight is central to the video's theme as the events described unfold on this flight, leading to a dramatic incident at Heathrow.

💡Boeing 777-200ER

The Boeing 777-200ER is the model of the aircraft used for the flight. This is a long-range, wide-body airliner that is known for its fuel efficiency and capacity. In the video, the aircraft's performance and characteristics are crucial as they relate to the incident that occurred during the flight.

💡Autopilot

Autopilot refers to a system that enables an aircraft to fly automatically without constant pilot input. In the script, it is mentioned that the plane was on autopilot as it descended towards Heathrow. This technology is essential for understanding how the aircraft was being controlled leading up to the incident.

💡Altitude

Altitude in the context of aviation refers to the height of an aircraft above sea level. The script describes the plane's altitude varying between 34,800 feet and 40,000 feet. This is significant as it sets the scene for the environmental conditions the aircraft was experiencing.

💡Fuel

Fuel in this context is the aviation fuel used to power the aircraft's engines. The script mentions monitoring the fuel temperature due to the cold external conditions, indicating the importance of fuel management in flight operations, especially in extreme weather.

💡Ice formation

Ice formation is a critical concept in the script as it refers to the build-up of ice within the fuel system. The script describes how ice formed in the fuel lines during the flight, which is a key factor leading to the engines' failure upon approach to Heathrow.

💡Engine failure

Engine failure is a serious event where an aircraft's engine stops functioning. In the script, it is mentioned that both engines failed due to ice in the fuel system, which is the central crisis of the video. This event led to the plane ditching before reaching the runway.

💡Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB)

The AAIB is a British organization responsible for the investigation of civil aviation accidents and incidents. The script mentions that the investigation into the incident took two years, highlighting the complexity and importance of understanding the cause of such events.

💡Safety

Safety is a recurring theme in aviation and is emphasized in the script through the actions of the flight crew in handling the emergency. The successful landing without loss of life and the subsequent recognition of the crew with a 'British Airways Safety Award' underscore the significance of safety in aviation.

💡Ditching

Ditching refers to the intentional act of landing an aircraft on water in an emergency. The script describes how flight BA38 had to ditch in the Thames River near Heathrow due to engine failure, which is a critical moment in the video's narrative.

Highlights

The incident occurred on January 17, 2008, involving British Airways flight 38 from Beijing to London.

The aircraft involved was a Boeing 777-200ER, delivered to British Airways in May 2001.

The plane had a capacity of 233 passengers, with 136 passengers and 16 crew on board during the incident.

The flight path took the plane over Mongolia, Siberia, and Scandinavia, flying at altitudes between 34,800 and 40,000 feet.

The outside temperature varied between -65°C and -74°C during the flight.

The crew monitored the fuel temperature to prevent it from freezing, considering descending to a warmer altitude if necessary.

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

Despite the fuel not freezing, some small amounts of moisture in the fuel did freeze.

The plane was preparing to land at London Heathrow Airport when the engines failed.

The captain was Peter B., and the first officer was John C., with another first officer, Conor M., also in the cockpit.

The plane was on autopilot as it approached the airport, but the crew decided to take manual control shortly before landing.

The plane experienced strong winds as it neared London Heathrow Airport.

Both engines failed, leaving the plane without thrust, which led to a crash if not addressed.

The captain increased the flaps by 5 degrees to reduce the sink rate as the plane was descending too fast.

The plane had to avoid power lines and airport antennas to prevent a disaster.

The plane crash-landed short of the runway at Heathrow Airport, with all passengers surviving but 47 injured.

This incident was the first hull loss involving a Boeing 777.

The investigation took two years, with the final report issued by the AAIB in February 2010.

The initial hypothesis was a software glitch in the engine control system, which was later rejected.

The AAIB concluded that ice formed in the fuel line during the flight, which was not an issue until the end when the increased fuel flow and high temperature dislodged the ice into the fuel.

The ice then blocked the fuel flow to the engines, causing a flameout.

The fuel flow to the engines was reduced, causing a flameout.

The fuel heat exchanger was redesigned in 2010 following the incident.

The flight crew of BA38 was awarded the 'British Airways Safety Award'.