British Airways pilots applauded for landing ‘horror film’ smoke-filled plane
The pilots of a British Airways (BA) plane which sparked terror as it filled with smoke on the way to Spain yesterday have been praised for landing passengers under “extremely challenging” conditions.
Yesterday afternoon, 175 passengers on BA flight 422 were forced to slide down emergency chutes to the runway at Valencia airport, after the cabin filled with smoke so thick they reportedly could not see people two seats ahead of them.
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The incident happened around 10 minutes before the flight landed at 6.44pm yesterday afternoon.
But as the cockpit also filled with white smoke, the two BA pilots in charge landed the flight wearing gas masks and goggles.
A ‘very well-managed’ emergency
British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) general secretary Brian Strutton said: “The pilots and crew appear to have done an excellent and highly-professional job of getting this aircraft safely onto the ground in very difficult circumstances, and safely evacuating all the passengers with no reported serious injuries.
“We believe the pilots landed this aircraft wearing full oxygen masks and goggles which is extremely challenging.
“We will await the accident report, but this looks to have been a very well-managed emergency situation, and overall a good outcome, and I pay tribute to the pilots and crew for a job very well done.”
It has since emerged that passenger oxygen masks did not deploy, sparking outcry on social media. But the trade body said this was misplaced, and that the masks did not fall from the ceiling because the smoke could contaminate the oxygen supply.
“They, unlike pilot and cabin crew oxygen systems, are not designed to be used in smoke events as they mix the oxygen supply with the ambient air. Passenger oxygen masks are for use during decompression events.”
‘Like a horror film’
Passengers have since described their terror as the cabin filled with thick white smoke while the plane was still thousands of feet above the ground, with one likening the situation to a “horror film”.
Film lecturer at London College of Communication Lucy Brown, who was aboard the flight, said: “Terrifying experience on flight to Valencia. Felt like horror film.
“Thankfully everyone safe. Flight filled with smoke and had to be emergency evacuated.”
The smoke was caused by a “technical issue,” according to BA, believed to be a fire in the plane’s motor.
Three passengers were taken to hospital as a precaution and have since been discharged.
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BA said: “The safety of our customers and crew is always our highest priority. In addition to our team on site, other British Airways team members have arrived in Valencia to help our customers and our local airport partners with anything they need.”
Main image: Getty