18 January 2008

Investigators are trying to find out why a British Airways plane - carrying more than 150 people - crash-landed at London's Heathrow airport.

The Boeing 777, arriving from Beijing, China, struck the ground at 12.42pm yesterday on the grassy approach to the airport's south runway, crushing its undercarriage, which became detached, and 'belly-flopping', causing the aircraft to skid for several hundred metres.

Of the 16 crew members and 136 passengers, just 11 suffered minor injuries, thanks to the "heroic" efforts of the pilot, Peter Burkill.

Passenger Fernando Prado said the landing gear appeared to fail. "I saw the engine on the tarmac. Everything was over quickly. There was no panic at all," he told BBC News.

In a statement, BA chief executive Willie Walsh described his crew, which he said followed safety procedures to the letter, as magnificent.

"The captain of the aircraft is one of our most experienced and has been flying with us for nearly 20 years," he said.

The incident will now be investigated by the Department of Transport's Air Accident Investigation Branch.

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