I was a passenger on BA flight 2024 which was evacuated at IAH. I have been trying since I returned home to Texas to get info on the cause of this fire. I have called and e-mailed the NTSB and they keep telling me the preliminary report is not yet available. Can anyone tell me, please, how long this process normally takes? Or is there any inside info on what happened?
Here's the way I remember it: I was sitting in coach very near the rear of the plane. I heard the noise coming from the engine but tried to ignore it. The captain announced to us, very calmly, that they were talking to ground control. I knew this meant we were going back, and for about 30 seconds I was annoyed at the delay, until I started to smell the smoke. I knew then that the problem was serious and I just wanted to get on the ground alive. The plane made a sharp turn and the captain continued to speak to us calmly, reassuring us we would be landing soon. The smoke was getting really thick and was making me feel queasy. The captain apologized for the smoke and recommend putting your head down between the knees to avoid breathing smoke. I am asthmatic, so the smoke bothered me more than in would most people. I kept my head down until I felt the plane touch down. The captain had given us no indication in the air that there would be an emergency evac, and this is probably best because it might have caused panic. Once the plane stopped, he said something like, "As most of you have figured out, this is an emergency situation, EVACUATE, EVACUATE, EVACUATE!!" The FA's opened all of the exit doors, then one FA said on the loudspeaker, "Right side only, right side only," because the firemen were still putting out the fire on the left side of the plane.
We all jumped onto the chutes and ran to the adjacent runway. Many of the crew came over to comfort those of us who were upset, and the captain even gave me a hug. We stood there for some time until the buses came to take us back to the airport, then we were ushered into a lounge with free food and bar drinks. Most of the crew members were in the lounge with us and were still offering comfort to those who needed it. They also gave us free calling cards in case we needed to talk to someone from home.
I have been a flying to Europe with BA for many years. Before this incident, I liked BA for the most part, although I am not happy with the changes they have made to the Executive Club recently. However, after this incident, I will never have an unkind word to say about BA for the rest of my life. Their handling of this situation was superb beyond words, and I cannot say enough about the newfound respect I have for BA. They showed genuine concern for our safety, and really cared about the emotional distress this caused. If anyone working for BA is reading this, please give yourself a big pat on the back and show this message to anyone you think will be interested.
Once again, any info on the cause of this fire would be greatly appreciated.