Edward Killiwick, who was traveling from Dusseldorf to London Heathrow on July 6, described a harrowing experience as his British Airways flight performed a sudden, aggressive maneuver. Killiwick reported that after an aborted landing, the aircraft underwent a violent movement that left passengers fearing a crash.
According to Killiwick, the cabin atmosphere became increasingly tense as the plane entered a holding pattern for approximately 15 minutes without updates from the flight crew. He noted that he and his partner had to console a fellow passenger who began screaming, "I don't want to die." Upon landing, the aircraft was met by emergency services, including fire trucks and police.
The UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is currently examining the event, which has been classified as a serious incident. Reports from the French accident investigation authority, the BEA, indicate that the Airbus A320 experienced a data system failure that triggered a stall warning during the approach. The crew subsequently operated the aircraft in "alternate law" mode, which disables certain automated flight protections, before a second stall warning occurred at an altitude of 3,000 feet. This prompted the crew to upgrade their initial urgency call to a mayday.
British Airways stated that it is cooperating with the AAIB investigation and cannot provide further comments at this time. Killiwick recalled that while some passengers clapped upon landing, the general mood was one of quiet relief.
Source: BBC News
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.