The Press Association: Crash landing crew honoured
The crew of a British Airways plane that crash-landed at Heathrow Airport has been awarded the airline's highest honour - the BA Safety Medal.
The medal has gone to the three flight crew and 13 cabin crew of the 777 which landed short of the runway in January. All 136 passengers survived the crash.
Those receiving the medal include Captain Peter Burkill and his co-pilot John Coward, who landed the plane.
AFP: BA honours pilots, crew for averting disaster
BA honours pilots, crew for averting disaster
1 hour ago
LONDON (AFP) — The crew of a British Airways Boeing 777 jet, which landed short of the runway at London's main Heathrow airport earlier this year, have been rewarded for their skill and courage, the airline said Tuesday.
The three pilots and 13 cabin crew on BA flight 38 were given the BA Safety Medal for their professionalism in getting all passengers off without serious injury and averting disaster.
The jet, travelling from Beijing with 136 passengers on board, lost power over the suburbs on its approach to the world's busiest international passenger airport on January 17.
Eighteen people were treated for minor injuries after the crash, which happened in sight of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's chartered 747 jet that was preparing to head to China and India, and caused major delays at the airport.
BA chief executive Willie Walsh said in a statement that the medal had only ever been awarded three times before and was given to mark exceptional achievement.
"The crew demonstrated incredible professionalism, first in landing the aircraft safely and then evacuating all the passengers with only a few minor injuries sustained," he said.
"The whole of British Airways is extremely proud of them."
The pilot, Captain Peter Burkill, said it was a "great privilege" but the crew's training kicked in.