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Airliner crash-lands at Heathrow Airliner crash-lands at Heathrow
(40 minutes later)
A passenger plane has crash-landed short of a runway at Heathrow Airport after losing its rear undercarriage.A passenger plane has crash-landed short of a runway at Heathrow Airport after losing its rear undercarriage.
All 136 passengers and 16 crew escaped from the British Airways flight BA038 from Beijing. Six people have been taken to hospital with minor injuries. All 136 passengers and 16 crew escaped from the British Airways flight BA038 from Beijing. 13 people have been taken to hospital with minor injuries.
An airport worker told the BBC the pilot on the Boeing 777 had said he had lost all power, and had been forced to glide the plane into land.An airport worker told the BBC the pilot on the Boeing 777 had said he had lost all power, and had been forced to glide the plane into land.
All BA short-haul flights from Heathrow have been cancelled and others delayed.All BA short-haul flights from Heathrow have been cancelled and others delayed.
The worker also said the pilot had told him all the electronics had also failed.The worker also said the pilot had told him all the electronics had also failed.
I could hear the undercarriage come out and the next moment the plane just dropped Paul Venter, passenger Eyewitness accounts
"He said he had no warning - it just went," the worker added."He said he had no warning - it just went," the worker added.
"It's a miracle. The man deserves a medal as big as a frying pan."
BA refused to comment on the report and said it would not speculate on the cause of the crash.BA refused to comment on the report and said it would not speculate on the cause of the crash.
Police say the incident was not terror-related.Police say the incident was not terror-related.
'Enormous bang''Enormous bang'
Nearby Hillingdon Hospital is treating 13 casualties, four of whom are BA crew members. The pilot is not thought to be among them.
Director of operations Jacqueline Totterdell said most would be discharged later on Thursday, but one would be admitted overnight. She said some were suffering from whiplash.
HEATHROW TRAVEL DISRUPTION Several short-haul and some long-haul flights cancelledMany other long-haul flights from Heathrow departing late, currently about two to three hours in many casesThe scheduled British Airways flights from Manchester Airport to Heathrow at 1540, 1705, 1850 and 1940 are cancelled. 11 incoming flights diverted to GatwickFour incoming flights have been diverted to LutonFive incoming flights have been diverted to StanstedFor up-to-date information on later flights, contact your airline Latest on travel chaos
Seven of those in hospital are British and three are Chinese. The nationalities of the others are not yet known.
The incident happened on the south runway at 1242 GMT, as Prime Minister Gordon Brown was due to leave Heathrow for China and India. His flight was delayed because of the incident.The incident happened on the south runway at 1242 GMT, as Prime Minister Gordon Brown was due to leave Heathrow for China and India. His flight was delayed because of the incident.
I could hear the undercarriage come out and the next moment the plane just dropped Paul Venter, passenger Eyewitness accounts
The runway was initially closed, but reopened later to take-offs only. The north runway remained open throughout the incident.The runway was initially closed, but reopened later to take-offs only. The north runway remained open throughout the incident.
A telephone helpline has been set up for anyone concerned about friends or relatives on 0800 3894193.A telephone helpline has been set up for anyone concerned about friends or relatives on 0800 3894193.
The Department of Transport's Air Accidents Investigation Branch has launched an investigation.The Department of Transport's Air Accidents Investigation Branch has launched an investigation.
Rolls Royce, which manufactured the plane's two Trent 800 engines, said it was also sending a specialist team to assist with the inquiry. 'Excellent aircraft'
Aviation expert Kieran Daly, from Flight International magazine, said not a single Boeing 777 had been lost in a crash since the aircraft was launched in 1995.
Eyewitness John Rowland said: "The plane's wheels collapsed, doors were flown open.Eyewitness John Rowland said: "The plane's wheels collapsed, doors were flown open.
"On its approach it took the runway too low, just missing the roof of my cab."On its approach it took the runway too low, just missing the roof of my cab.
HEATHROW TRAVEL DISRUPTION All British Airways short haul flights out of Heathrow cancelled for the rest of the daySome long haul flights cancelledMany other long haul flights from Heathrow departing late, currently about two to three hours in many casesThe scheduled British Airways flights from Manchester Airport to Heathrow at 1540, 1705, 1850 and 1940 are cancelled. 11 incoming flights diverted to GatwickFour incoming flights have been diverted to LutonFive incoming flights have been diverted to StanstedFor up-to-date information on later flights, contact your airline Latest on travel chaos
"It crashed into the runway, debris was flying everywhere, there was an enormous bang and it skidded sideways.""It crashed into the runway, debris was flying everywhere, there was an enormous bang and it skidded sideways."
Another eyewitness, a taxi driver, said the plane flew over the nearby M4 motorway "so low you would think you could lean out the window and touch it".Another eyewitness, a taxi driver, said the plane flew over the nearby M4 motorway "so low you would think you could lean out the window and touch it".
"It passed over my vehicle at something like 20ft and over the perimeter [fence] at 15ft before it plunged into the runway," he told the BBC."It passed over my vehicle at something like 20ft and over the perimeter [fence] at 15ft before it plunged into the runway," he told the BBC.
BA said the cabin crew had done an "excellent job" evacuating passengers, and that it would release more information as soon as it was available.
Chief executive of BA Willie Walsh said he was "very proud" of the crew and the Boeing 777 was an "excellent aircraft".Chief executive of BA Willie Walsh said he was "very proud" of the crew and the Boeing 777 was an "excellent aircraft".
"We train hard for incidents such as this, and all that training has paid off today," Mr Walsh said."We train hard for incidents such as this, and all that training has paid off today," Mr Walsh said.
Fernando Pardo was a passenger on the plane. He told the BBC there was "no sign whatsoever of any trouble until we touched the ground". 'Near miracle'
"It was so quick that you could not even realise what exactly happened. There was no panic at all," he said. Aviation expert Kieran Daly, from Flight International magazine, said not a single Boeing 777 had been lost in a crash since the aircraft was launched in 1995.
But Paul Venter, who was also on board, said he had been aware of a problem just as the plane was about to land. Paul Venter, who was on board the plane, said he had been aware of a problem just as the plane was about to land.
"I could hear the undercarriage come out, and the next moment the plane just dropped," Mr Venter said."I could hear the undercarriage come out, and the next moment the plane just dropped," Mr Venter said.
"The wheels came out and went for touchdown, and the next moment we just dropped. I couldn't tell you how far. BA helpline ONLY for anyone concerned about friends or relatives: 0800 389 4193BA general enquiries: 0870 850 9850
"When everything came to a standstill, I looked out of the window and the undercarriage was gone and the plane was on its belly. "When everything came to a standstill, I looked out of the window and the undercarriage was gone and the plane was on its belly."
BA has set up a helpline for anyone concerned about friends or relatives: 0800 3894193 More than 90 flights had been cancelled at Heathrow by 1530 GMT. Some flights bound for Heathrow are being diverted to Stansted and Luton Airports, and others have been cancelled.
"I didn't speak to the pilot, but I saw him, and he looked very pale, but there was no communication in the cabin." John McDonnell MP, whose Hayes and Harlington constituency includes Heathrow, said the incident underlined concerns about extending the airport.
A London Ambulance spokeswoman said there were eight ambulances at Heathrow, and six passengers had been taken to nearby Hillingdon Hospital with minor injuries.
She could not give details of the type of injuries the passengers suffered.
'Dousing of foam'
Another eyewitness, Nick Gray, told BBC News: "There were some sparks as the undercarriage or the bottom of the plane actually touched the runway - certainly a huge amount of smoke coming up from that.
"It was incredibly efficient the speed that people got off the aircraft.
"There seems to have been regular dousing of foam on the port engine which obviously probably was the hottest one where the plane landed."
More than 90 flights had been cancelled at Heathrow by 1530 GMT. Some flights bound for Heathrow are being diverted to Stansted and Luton Airports.
Manchester Airport said its BA flights to Heathrow on Thursday afternoon had been cancelled.
John McDonnell MP, whose Hayes and Harlington constituency includes Heathrow, told the BBC that the incident underlined concerns about extending the airport.
"This is a near miracle that neither passengers or anyone on the ground has been seriously injured," Mr McDonnell said."This is a near miracle that neither passengers or anyone on the ground has been seriously injured," Mr McDonnell said.
The plane involved is one of 43 Boeing 777s in BA's fleet. It is about believed to be about six years old. The plane involved is one of 43 Boeing 777s in BA's fleet. It is believed to be about six years old.
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