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Airliner crash lands at Heathrow Airliner crash lands at Heathrow
(10 minutes later)
An international passenger plane has crash landed short of the south runway at Heathrow Airport.An international passenger plane has crash landed short of the south runway at Heathrow Airport.
All 136 passengers and 16 crew escaped down the emergency chutes after British Airways flight BA038 from Beijing lost its rear undercarriage and came down.All 136 passengers and 16 crew escaped down the emergency chutes after British Airways flight BA038 from Beijing lost its rear undercarriage and came down.
Six people have been taken to hospital suffering minor injuries, reports say.Six people have been taken to hospital suffering minor injuries, reports say.
Passengers at Heathrow airport are suffering travel disruption, with all British Airways short haul flights from the airport cancelled.Passengers at Heathrow airport are suffering travel disruption, with all British Airways short haul flights from the airport cancelled.
An airport worker told the BBC's Angus Crawford that the plane's pilot said he had lost all power and electronics, and had to glide the aircraft in.
The incident happened 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 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.
Downing Street said at about 1430 GMT that Gordon Brown had taken off.Downing Street said at about 1430 GMT that Gordon Brown had taken off.
On its approach it took the runway too low, just missing the roof of my cab John Rowland, eyewitness Eyewitness accountsOn its approach it took the runway too low, just missing the roof of my cab John Rowland, eyewitness Eyewitness accounts
The south runway is closed while investigators examine the scene - the north runway remains open.The south runway is closed while investigators examine the scene - the north runway remains open.
Police have said the incident involving the Boeing 777 was not terror-related.Police have said the incident involving the Boeing 777 was not terror-related.
The Department of Transport has launched an investigation.
'Enormous bang''Enormous bang'
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.
"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."
BA has set up a helpline for anyone concerned about friends or relatives: 0800 3894193BA has set up a helpline for anyone concerned about friends or relatives: 0800 3894193
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.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.
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.
Chief executive of BA Willie Walsh said he was "very proud" of the crew.Chief executive of BA Willie Walsh said he was "very proud" of the crew.
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 90 minutes 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 airlineHEATHROW 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 90 minutes 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
Fernando Pardo was a passenger on the plane itself. He told the BBC there was "no sign whatsoever of any trouble until we touched the ground".Fernando Pardo was a passenger on the plane itself. He told the BBC there was "no sign whatsoever of any trouble until we touched the ground".
"It was so quick that you could not even realise what exactly happened. There was no panic at all," Mr Pardo said."It was so quick that you could not even realise what exactly happened. There was no panic at all," Mr Pardo said.
But Paul Venter, who was also on board, said he was aware of a problem just as the plane was about to land.But Paul Venter, who was also on board, said he was 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."The wheels came out and went for touchdown, and the next moment we just dropped. I couldn't tell you how far.
"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.
"I didn't speak to the pilot, but I saw him, and he looked very pale, but there was no communication in the cabin.""I didn't speak to the pilot, but I saw him, and he looked very pale, but there was no communication in the cabin."
A London Ambulance spokeswoman said there were eight ambulances at Heathrow and six passengers had been taken to nearby Hillingdon Hospital with minor injuries.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.She could not give details of the type of injuries the passengers suffered.
'Dousing of foam''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.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."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.""There seems to have been regular dousing of foam on the port engine which obviously probably was the hottest one where the plane landed."
Some flights bound for Heathrow are being diverted to Stansted and Luton Airports.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.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.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.


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