This article appeared a few weeks ago in not one of our most respectable newspapers.
CONCORDE CONTROLS KNOCKED OUT
EXCLUSIVE
By Andrew Buckwell
Daily Mirror
A Concorde came within seconds of plunging to disaster after vital controls were knocked out by freak weather.
The British Airways supersonic jet was preparing to land at Heathrow when it was engulfed in static electricity for a split second it was revealed last night.
The rare storm condition – known as St Elmo’s Fire- crippled the auto-pilot the altimeter and equipment that stabilises the aircraft.
None of the 29 passengers on board was aware of the seriousness of the problem but the crew were left "badly shaken".
The captain, co-pilot and flight engineer were forced to use manual systems to regain control.
A senior Civil Aviation Authority source said yesterday: "It appears from the report filed by the plane’s captain that for over two minutes the Concorde had no main controls and anything could have happened".
The pilot’s report said the St Elmo’s Fire had the effect of lighting up the sky around the plane in a luminous green colour.
Seconds after the static "fireworks and crew managed to regain partial control and the plane was then given clearance to land immediately at Heathrow.
"If one main system fails there is always a back-up but for all major controls to be lost at the same time is a million to one chance", said the source.
"The most important control lost was the trim, which keeps the aircraft balanced.
"Without it any plane becomes like a lead weight about to fall out of the sky. The crew were badly shaken by this experience but decided not to inform the passengers so that everyone remained calm".
Concorde has been flying commercially for more than 24 years and the jets have been hit by St Elmo’s Fire phenomenon before but previous incidents have not been serious.
A British Airways spokeswoman said: " The aircraft experienced static electricity.
"The auto pilot did disengage but this is not an issue as the aircraft is designed to fly manually. It was flown manually and landed normally"
The Concorde hit trouble as it joined the stack of planes above a section of the M25 motorway at Ockham, Surrey……………..
LIGHTNING ‘DANCES THROUGH SCREEN’
Captain Eric Moody, who has flown British Airways planes for over 20 years, told last night how terrifying it could be to fly through St Elmo’s Fire.
Captain Moody experienced the phenomenon himself while he was flying in the Philippines 18 years ago.
He said "St Elmo’s Fire is a small electrical discharge that occurs when a plane passes through the water content of a cloud. It ‘s like a series of lightning flashes, dancing through the centre of the pilot’s windscreen. It is quite spectacular." He added "In cases of this Concorde incident, I’ve never heard of St Elmo’s Fire happening so close to the ground".
A Civil Aviation Authority spokesman said: "Thankfully the pilot was able to land the plane at Heathrow".