BA 777 lands short of runway at LHR

[Saitek]

They said it would have sunk into the boggy grass and then the surge of the plane's weight would have just snapped it clean off. Sounds a sensible suggestion; rather than a rough bangwangthump landing.

[Mictheslik]

Great piloting if windshear/power loss is the cause

Shame about the BBC's reporting though....apparently they "lost all control"....then they interviewed two passengers who'se only concern was for their coats which they had left on the plane...

I wonder if anyone was out at Myrtle Avenue...It would be very interesting to see it's altitude as it came over the houses....but I guess the weather puts people off....

.mic

[ozzy72]

Does Heathrow have a webcam? If so check the house roofs for tyre marks

[MWISimmer]

I think there are plenty of other places in the LHR environs which have plenty of skidmarks today, 136 pax on the aircraft own a pair for starters...

[expat]

Does Heathrow have a webcam? If so check the house roofs for tyre marks

It certainly has a hard core of spotters. I would not be surprised if a nice video of the accident surfaces or a series of photos make the front page of The Sun tomorrow. Just a question of finding the highest bidder before tonights deadline.

Matt

[Chris_F]

From CNN.com:

"A spokesman for London's Metropolitan Police said there was nothing to suggest the incident was terror-related"

Whew, that's a relief.  After all that is the only reason airplanes crash, right?

[C]

From CNN.com:

"A spokesman for London's Metropolitan Police said there was nothing to suggest the incident was terror-related"

Whew, that's a relief.  After all that is the only reason airplanes crash, right?

Yep. They're all creations of the devil too.

Sad world we live in now, isn't it?

[ozzy72]

But you have to remember that until something official is said by an appointed official then it is officially unofficial I think I might need to lay of the Yes Prime Minister for a couple of days

[Chris_F]

But you have to remember that until something official is said by an appointed official then it is officially unofficial I think I might need to lay of the Yes Prime Minister for a couple of days

And if it isn't official it just isn't reliable information.

Of course nobody stops to think: is offician information any more reliable?  :)

[ozzy72]

Who knows? But as long as it is official then someone can carry the can for getting it wrong. If there is one thing worse than inaccurate and irresponsible journalism it is accurate and irresponsible journalism

[eno]

Sky TV interview with Air Accident Investigator.(retired)

Sky: "Why do you think there was no warning to the passengers that there was a technical problem and that they were going to crash?"

AAI: " Who said there was a technical problem?  In my opinion it wasn't so much of a crash rather a hard landing and I suspect that the pilots were too busy flying the plane to warn the passengers. I would also say that we shouldn't be speculating until we get a report from the official investigators."

Later interview of 3 passengers from the 777 on the BBC.

BBC: "Where you made aware that there was a problem and that the plane was going to crash?"

Passengers: "No..... we thought it was just a hard landing and only realised that there was a problem when the plane stopped and the oxygen masks and some paneling fell down. Then the crew opened the doors and got us out."

Not accurate quotes ..... but giving a good idea about how news coverage is sensationalised with no facts to base the speculation upon.

Judging by what the passengers have been saying .... no matter what the cause is there was some damn good flying going on up front in that aircraft.

[61_OTU]

Just been on the news, pilot was Captain Peter Burkill, 43.

Top chap  8-)

[Saitek]

He'll enjoy a nice round of applause from the tabloids in particular.
Well done to him.
The best landing of his career and he didn't even land on the runway!

[EGNX]

Wow!... From what it seems those pilots deserve medals! Fantastic work!  :o

[beaky]

Some mistake was made somewhere in the chain, no doubt... but the crew seems to have done everything just right in terms of dealing with the ill-fated approach, down to evacuating everyone safely.
Good job!