Crash Pilot 30 Seconds From Disaster
Updated:14:19, Friday January 18, 2008
<H2>The pilot of a BA jet that crash-landed at Heathrow airport had just 30 seconds to save his passengers, Sky sources say.
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Pilot Peter Burkhill
Captain Peter Burkill only discovered that his Boeing 777 had lost power when he was 500ft above London's rooftops.
He tried to apply more thrust as the plane sank dangerously low on its approach to one of the world's busiest airports.
But the engines failed to respond, leaving him with 30 seconds to decide how to handle the crisis.
Capt Burkill was forced to the land the jet carrying 136 passengers several hundred feet short of the runway
Pilots' union Balpa said Capt Burkill and his first officer John Coward had gone out for "a quiet curry" after the landing and were "embarrassed" by media coverage.
The Professional Pilots' Rumour Network website was also full of compliments from fellow pilots.
"I am only just staring out on the path to a commercial career but it does make me feel incredible proud to be entering a profession with such amazing professionals," HappyFran wrote.