A packed British Airways passenger jet came within seconds of catastrophe after a horrifying navigation error sent it plummeting towards a west London suburb, a damning official report has revealed.
The Boeing 777-200, operating as flight BA762 from Miami to London, was on its final approach to Heathrow's runway 27L when the crew inexplicably failed to follow standard landing procedures. Instead of maintaining a stable descent, the aircraft dipped to a mere 250 feet (76 metres) above the ground—far below the safe minimum altitude of 1,000 feet for that location.
According to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report, the colossal jet screamed over houses in Staines-upon-Thames, its altitude so low that it triggered a series of frantic 'TERRAIN' and 'TOO LOW' alarms in the cockpit. The aircraft's landing gear was already deployed, adding to the sheer peril of the situation.
'Pull Up! Pull Up!': Cockpit Chaos as Alarms Scream
Inside the cockpit, chaos erupted. The enhanced ground proximity warning system (EGPWS) blared urgent alerts, jolting the pilots into action. With incredible presence of mind, the crew slammed the throttles forward, executing a dramatic 'go-around' manoeuvre to claw the aircraft back into the sky and avoid an unthinkable tragedy.
The AAIB investigation pinpointed the cause as a critical breakdown in the crew's monitoring of the aircraft's flight path and altitude. The report states the pilots became "unstuck" from the standard approach procedure, leading to the catastrophic deviation.
A Narrow Escape for 183 Souls Onboard
The incident, which occurred on the evening of June 10th, 2023, had the potential to be one of the UK's worst aviation disasters. The Boeing 777 was carrying 183 passengers and crew, all of whom were unknowingly placed in grave danger. The successful go-around meant the aircraft could circle, reposition, and land safely on a second attempt.
Heathrow Airport, a global aviation hub, has been reminded of the razor-thin margin between safety and disaster. This serious incident has sparked urgent calls for a review of procedures and pilot training to prevent a repeat of such a terrifyingly close call.
