BA Flight Fire: Engine Doors 'Left Unlatched'
Investigators find a crucial error was made when the plane was in maintenance, leading to the flight's dramatic emergency landing.
Smoke was seen pouring from one of the engines of the plane
Doors on both engines of the British Airways plane in last week's Heathrow emergency landing drama had been left unlatched during maintenance, according to an official accident report.
Flight BA762 was on its way to Oslo from the airport last Friday when it was forced to return to the London hub shortly after take off.
Smoke was seen pouring from one of the engines and the plane appeared damaged as it flew over southeast, central and west London.
The unlatching had not been noticed before the Airbus A319 took off, according tothe Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report.
The fan cowl doors from both engines detached as the aircraft left the runway at Heathrow, puncturing a fuel pipe on the right engine, the report said.
The report said: "Subsequent investigation revealed that the fan cowl doors on both engines were left unlatched during maintenance and this was not identified prior to aircraft departure."
The detaching also punctured the airframe and some aircraft systems and the flight crew, led by the 50-year-old captain, decided to return to Heathrow.
On the approach to land an external fire developed on the right engine, with the left engine continuing to perform normally throughout the flight.
The report added that the right engine was shut down and the aircraft landed safely.
The emergency services quickly attended and extinguished the fire in the right engine.
The 75 passengers and five crew were evacuated via emergency chutes. Three people were treated for minor injuries.
On Thursday, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) - which is assisting the AAIB probe - released information on its website saying that one engine shut down and the other on fire during the May 24 incident.
However, later in the day AAIB said the NTSB information was incorrect.
British Airways chief executive Keith Williams said he welcomed the publication of the AAIB interim report.
"We continue to cooperate fully with the investigation team and can confirm that appropriate initial action has already been taken in accordance with the AAIB's safety recommendation to Airbus," he said.
"We regret we are precluded from releasing or discussing any additional details while the AAIB investigation is ongoing.
"We commend the professionalism of the flight crew for the safe landing of the plane and the cabin crew and pilots for its safe evacuation.
"We continue to offer our full support to those customers who were onboard the flight."
The drama closed both runways for a while and although both reopened there were flight cancellations and delays for those heading off for the bank holiday weekend.
