A British Airways flight from Dusseldorf to Heathrow came within seconds of disaster after stalling 4,000 feet above Canary Wharf on July 6, following an air data systems failure.
Incident Details
The Airbus A320, operating as Flight BA919, stalled during its approach to Heathrow after the first officer failed to correct the problem. The captain then physically intervened, a move described as unprecedented at low altitude.
“To recover from this position is difficult, especially so low to the ground,” a source told The Sun. “It is unheard of for a captain to physically intervene in the cockpit.”
Senior figures indicated the aircraft narrowly avoided a “hull loss,” aviation terminology for serious damage or destruction.
Investigation and Response
The incident has been classified as a “loss of control in-flight” and branded as “pilot induced.” The captain is now on stress leave.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has launched a probe into the serious incident. British Airways, which operates roughly 19 direct flights per week between Dusseldorf and Heathrow, said it is assisting the investigation. The Civil Aviation Authority declined to comment on the ongoing review.
