Report: Engines to blame for crash
LONDON (AP) - January 18, 2008 Using flight recorder information, investigators will focus on
what might have caused the engine problem on British Airways Flight
038 from Beijing to London, according to the report from Britain's
Air Accidents Investigation Branch.
The British Airways Boeing 777 made a crunching touchdown short
of the runway on Thursday, ripping off the plane's landing gear and
severely damaging the two engines and wings. Nineteen injuries were
reported among the 152 people aboard.
"The aircraft speed reduced and the aircraft descended onto the
grass short of the paved runway surface," the report said.
The captain of the jet paid tribute to his co-pilot, saying his
actions to safely bring down the stricken plane were remarkable.
"Flying is about teamwork, and we had a fantastic team on
board," Capt. Peter Burkill told reporters at British Airways'
London headquarters, before singling out Senior First Officer John
Coward, who was at the controls, for special praise.
More than 53 flights from Heathrow airport were canceled early
Friday in the continuing disruption caused by the crash landing at
Europe's busiest airport. The crumpled plane remained on the runway
Friday.
British Airways had said it expected to operate all of its
long-haul flights from Heathrow on Friday and 90 percent of
short-haul operations.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board has dispatched a
team to assist in the investigation.
David Gleave, the chief safety investigator at Aviation Hazard
Analysis, a private company, said a bird strike or fuel shortage
would be among the possibilities investigators would consider as
being behind the accident.