Experts Are Mystified By Jet’s Failure

Aviation experts were mystified last night how a modern aircraft operated by a top international airline came so close to disaster when flying into one of the best-equipped airports in the world.

All aspects of the incident involving the British Airways’ Boeing 777 will be thoroughly probed by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

Expert Julian Bray said it appeared the plane “suffered a very late technical incident which caused a catastrophic total loss of power in one or more engines”.

He said: “It would appear that as this was on the southern 27L runway near the water reservoir and its ever-changing large flock of Canada geese, that a sudden bird strike may provide the answer.”

Air Transport Intelligence editor Kieran Daly said there was no “obvious explanation” for what happened.

“Almost certainly they must have lost all or virtually all their engine power because there’s no other explanation why this aircraft would fail to reach the runway.

“There are only a small number of potential reasons that could cause both engines to fail. You have to look at the weather, but it wasn’t very spectacular.

“Then you think about birdstrike, but it is extremely rare that that happens even to one engine, never mind both. That leaves fuel starvation, running out of fuel, but that’s incredible as well.

The Boeing 777 is an extremely reliable aircraft with an almost impeccable safety record, a flight expert said yesterday.

Kieran Daly from Flight International magazine said not one 777 – known as the triple seven – has been lost in a crash since it was launched in June 1995.

Mr Daly said: “The 777 is an extremely reliable aircraft. There have been no 777 losses to date which is a fairly impressive record considering how long it has been in service.

“It’s very difficult to understand what might have gone wrong. We’re talking about one of the most advanced aircraft in the world, operated by one of the most safety-conscious airlines in the world, flying into one of the safest airports in the world. It’s quite a surprise.”

The plane that crash-landed is a 777 model 200 ER (Extended Range), British Airways said.

That type was rolled out in 1996 and went into operation the following year.

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