KEY POINTS:
The pilot whose skilful crash landing of a British Airways jet averted disaster at Heathrow on Friday yesterday spoke publicly about the incident for the first time.
Senior First Officer John Coward, who, under the command of Captain Peter Burkill, landed the plane despite the loss of both engines, said of the landing: "It wasn't just one thud but a series of thuds." This was followed by "an eerie silence" as the jet came to a halt. "I feared a catastrophe," he said.
Meanwhile, operations at Heathrow airport returned to normal yesterday.
The preliminary report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch into the incident which left 18 of the 136 passengers needing treatment is due in about 30 days. The AAIB said its inquiry was now focused "on more detailed analysis of the flight recorder information, collecting further recorded information from various system modules, and examining the range of aircraft systems that could influence engine operation".
It is believed no alarm sounded to warn the pilots of the aircraft's difficulties. Initial findings appeared to corroborate claims that the plane had suddenly lost power.
- INDEPENDENT
