Heathrow sees knock-on effect of BA crash
18 January 2008Passengers were warned to expect disruptions at Heathrow airport on January 18th following the British Airways crash landing that occurred on the previous day.
A statement released by BA said that the airline planned to operate all of its long-haul departures and 90 per cent of its short-haul flights from Heathrow on January 18th, but advised passengers to check service information before leaving home.
Some flights coming into Heathrow will be cancelled, travellers were warned.
The carrier said that the disruptions to short-haul flights will be caused by a number of aircraft, pilots and cabin crew being out of position following the crash landing of January 17th.
On the day following the incident, experts were still trying to find out exactly what caused the British Airways plane, which was carrying 136 passengers and 16 crew, to crash land.
According to some reports, the aircraft lost power in mid-air, meaning that 43-year-old pilot Peter Burkill had to glide the jet into its emergency landing.
Prime minister Gordon Brown, who was at Heathrow waiting to board a flight to China at the time of the crash, praised Mr Burkill for showing professionalism and managing to avert a major disaster.