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Jumbo jet in 'near-miss' incident Jumbo jet in 'near-miss' incident
(about 1 hour later)
The pilot of a jumbo jet with 450 passengers ignored autopilot landing instructions when he realised they had veered off course, a report said.The pilot of a jumbo jet with 450 passengers ignored autopilot landing instructions when he realised they had veered off course, a report said.
The Boeing 747 flew over parts of west London at heights of 1,200ft (366m) rather than the normal 2,300ft (701m).The Boeing 747 flew over parts of west London at heights of 1,200ft (366m) rather than the normal 2,300ft (701m).
The plane's autopilot was pushing the nose down and gave the pilot landing instructions which he did not follow in order to avoid a crash.The plane's autopilot was pushing the nose down and gave the pilot landing instructions which he did not follow in order to avoid a crash.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch is continuing its inquiry.The Air Accidents Investigation Branch is continuing its inquiry.
Campaigners opposed to the level of air traffic using Heathrow say it highlights the dangers of more planes using the airport. Campaigners opposed to the level of air traffic using Heathrow say the incident last January highlights the dangers of more planes using the airport.
'Tragedy averted''Tragedy averted'
John Stewart, of the campaign group Hacan ClearSkies, said: "The instruments were telling the plane not to land at Heathrow but to land in west London.John Stewart, of the campaign group Hacan ClearSkies, said: "The instruments were telling the plane not to land at Heathrow but to land in west London.
"If he (the pilot) had followed those directions there would have been a major tragedy. Thankfully he took matters into his own hands and averted that tragedy.""If he (the pilot) had followed those directions there would have been a major tragedy. Thankfully he took matters into his own hands and averted that tragedy."
It is not yet clear why the incident happened but it is thought that the plane lost touch with the Heathrow guidance beam. It is not yet clear why the incident happened but it is thought that the Israeli-registered plane lost touch with the Heathrow guidance beam.
Councillor Serge Laurie said: "It's worrying because a plane that should have been flying at 2,600 ft was actually flying at 1,200 ft.Councillor Serge Laurie said: "It's worrying because a plane that should have been flying at 2,600 ft was actually flying at 1,200 ft.
"Cloud cover was 1,500 ft so you can tell that the pilot would have had limited time to respond."Cloud cover was 1,500 ft so you can tell that the pilot would have had limited time to respond.
"It's clear that either the computer on the plane wasn't working properly or there was a fault with the landing system on the ground.""It's clear that either the computer on the plane wasn't working properly or there was a fault with the landing system on the ground."
The Department for Transport said there was never any risk of a crash because the pilot took action which air traffic control was aware of.The Department for Transport said there was never any risk of a crash because the pilot took action which air traffic control was aware of.