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| BA pilot 'feared all would die' | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The co-pilot of the British Airways jet that crash-landed at Heathrow feared everyone on board was going to die before he steered the plane to safety. | The co-pilot of the British Airways jet that crash-landed at Heathrow feared everyone on board was going to die before he steered the plane to safety. |
| Senior First Officer John Coward told the Sunday Mirror he believed there was going to be a "catastrophic crash". | Senior First Officer John Coward told the Sunday Mirror he believed there was going to be a "catastrophic crash". |
| But he said he was only doing his job when he managed to land the stricken Boeing 777 safely just inside the airport's perimeter fence on Thursday. | But he said he was only doing his job when he managed to land the stricken Boeing 777 safely just inside the airport's perimeter fence on Thursday. |
| The plane will be moved to a hangar on the eastern side of the airport later. | The plane will be moved to a hangar on the eastern side of the airport later. |
| It is expected that giant airbags will be inflated under the wreckage of flight BA038 so it can be dragged to the site, where investigators will continue with their examination. | It is expected that giant airbags will be inflated under the wreckage of flight BA038 so it can be dragged to the site, where investigators will continue with their examination. |
| 'Shuddered to a halt' | |
| Mr Coward, 41, told the Sunday Mirror how he became aware of a loss of power on board the plane on the final approach to the airport. | Mr Coward, 41, told the Sunday Mirror how he became aware of a loss of power on board the plane on the final approach to the airport. |
| "Suddenly there was nothing from any of the engines, and the plane started to glide," he said. | "Suddenly there was nothing from any of the engines, and the plane started to glide," he said. |
| The crew, the passengers, and everybody else acted heroically. Flying is definitely all about teamwork and that is what we all displayed Senior First Officer John Coward | |
| "I didn't think we'd clear the fence at first. As we landed I was bracing myself for an enormous thud. But instead of one thud, there was a series of thuds as it bounced along the grass." | "I didn't think we'd clear the fence at first. As we landed I was bracing myself for an enormous thud. But instead of one thud, there was a series of thuds as it bounced along the grass." |
| He added: "Eventually it shuddered to a halt. While I was trying to stop the plane. I struggled to try and keep it in a straight line." | |
| He said that after the crash "there was no sound at all. No sound from the engines, no sound from behind. | |
| "I turned around and composed myself and heard a lot of commotion behind me. I realised that staff were trying to carry out the drills to evacuate all the passengers. | |
| Mr Coward, who lives in France with his French wife and three children, said he had been left haunted by the incident and has been unable to sleep since Thursday. | |
| 'Professionalism' | 'Professionalism' |
| Mr Coward, who was credited by his captain, Peter Burkill, for averting a major crash, said he was humbled by people calling him a hero, but said: "I was only doing my job." | Mr Coward, who was credited by his captain, Peter Burkill, for averting a major crash, said he was humbled by people calling him a hero, but said: "I was only doing my job." |
| The crashed plane is set to be moved to a hangar | The crashed plane is set to be moved to a hangar |
| "The crew, the passengers, and everybody else acted heroically. Flying is definitely all about teamwork and that is what we all displayed," he added. | "The crew, the passengers, and everybody else acted heroically. Flying is definitely all about teamwork and that is what we all displayed," he added. |
| Earlier Captain Burkill said Mr Coward had done a "most remarkable job" in landing the aircraft. He also praised all the crew for showing "the highest standards of skill and professionalism". | Earlier Captain Burkill said Mr Coward had done a "most remarkable job" in landing the aircraft. He also praised all the crew for showing "the highest standards of skill and professionalism". |
| All 136 passengers and 16 crew on the British Airways flight from Beijing survived - one person suffered a broken leg and others received minor injuries during the emergency evacuation. | All 136 passengers and 16 crew on the British Airways flight from Beijing survived - one person suffered a broken leg and others received minor injuries during the emergency evacuation. |
| An initial report into the crash-landing by the Air Accident Investigations Branch (AAIB) found the jet's engines failed to respond to demands for increased thrust from the crew two miles from touchdown. | An initial report into the crash-landing by the Air Accident Investigations Branch (AAIB) found the jet's engines failed to respond to demands for increased thrust from the crew two miles from touchdown. |
| The AAIB is now investigating "the range of aircraft systems that could influence engine operation", and a more detailed analysis of the flight recorder is also taking place. | The AAIB is now investigating "the range of aircraft systems that could influence engine operation", and a more detailed analysis of the flight recorder is also taking place. |
| The results of the investigations are expected within 30 days. | The results of the investigations are expected within 30 days. |
| How landing at Heathrow works | How landing at Heathrow works |