BREAKING NEWS:
Praise for Hero Pilot After BA Flight from London to Chicago Makes a Successful Emergency Landing Back at Heathrow Despite TWO of its Five Sets of Wheels Malfunctioning
- BA295 flight returned to Heathrow when landing gear failed during journey
- Passengers described the experience as 'quite scary' and praised the pilot
- He landed British Airways aircraft on three sets of wheels instead of five
Daily Mail UK, 30 January 2016
A hero British Airways has been praised after he dramatically grounded a plane despite two of its five sets of wheels malfunctioning.
The BA295 flight returned to London after the 'technical problems' and was immediately met by fire engines on the runway.
Passengers described the experience as 'quite scary' and praised the pilot who landed the aircraft on only three sets of wheels.
Passengers have praised the BA pilot who landed the plane after its landing gear failed in mid-air
Sophie Garratt, foreign news editor at Sky News, was on the flight and tweeted this picture of the fire engines which met the aircraft after its dramatic emergency landing
This picture shows the landing gear that failed after the flight took off for Chicago - it had to return to Heathrow
This picture (file) shows what was missing when the BA flight returned to London Heathrow during the flight
Muriel Gray tweeted: 'The hugest kisses and hugs to the British Airways pilot who just landed the plane my husband was on when the landing gear failed.
Husband says BA pilot typically understated despite telling passengers how close a call that just was.'
Passenger Martin Robinson said: 'About three hours in we were told we would be returning to London due to a technical issue and it would take two hours to get back.
'About 20 minutes before landing we were told the landing gear would be lowered.
'We understand now there was a problem with landing gear and only three of the five wheel sets lowered.
'The pilot was brilliant, very cool and calm. We are currently sitting on runway waiting to be towed back. Emergency services were on stand by.
'I think the pilot nailed it. Everyone was calm. Landing was almost seamless. Better than other flights I've been on.'
Ben de Pear, editor of Channel 4 news, tweeted: 'Just landed back in Heathrow after BA295 to Chicago diverted back after 2 hours 4 'technical reasons' on runway met by fire engines.'
The flight, bound for Chicago, was south of Iceland, when it turned back and returned to London Heathrow
Muriel Gray tweeted her thanks to the pilot who landed the plane and said British Airways' pilots 'rule'
Passenger Martin Robinson said: The pilot was brilliant, very cool and calm. I think he nailed it'
Kevin Lang, a Liberal Democrat council candidate for Almond ward, in Edinburgh, in 2017, revealed how the passengers gave the hero pilot a 'big round of applause'
He said passengers were informed they had to disembark the plane rear first or it could have tipped on to its tail.
A Heathrow spokesman said a runway was closed for nearly an hour, which has caused disruption to some flights.
He said: 'Due to a technical issue with an aircraft that needed resolving on the runway following landing, Heathrow operated with only one runway for a short time.
'We are sorry that this has caused some disruption to flights. All passengers should check with their airline before travelling to the airport.'