Saudi B777 Lands on Wrong LHR RWY?
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Saudi B777 Lands on Wrong LHR RWY?
I just got this in my email, can anyone add to it?
Now, most of us like to see a 777 from any angle, but spare a thought for the airport worker at Heathrow who saw one in his rear view mirror. The man was driving on the CLOSED runway (27R is currently being resurfaced) and saw the lights of the landing aircraft (we can presume he didn't stay around long enough to confirm its identity!). He had enough time to clear the runway before the Saudi Arabian Airlines 777, carrying 250 people, landed. The CAA has launched an investigation.
(This report is from ITN's teletext)
Thanks.
Mutt.
[This message has been edited by mutt (edited 15 June 2001).]
Now, most of us like to see a 777 from any angle, but spare a thought for the airport worker at Heathrow who saw one in his rear view mirror. The man was driving on the CLOSED runway (27R is currently being resurfaced) and saw the lights of the landing aircraft (we can presume he didn't stay around long enough to confirm its identity!). He had enough time to clear the runway before the Saudi Arabian Airlines 777, carrying 250 people, landed. The CAA has launched an investigation.
(This report is from ITN's teletext)
Thanks.
Mutt.
[This message has been edited by mutt (edited 15 June 2001).]
Join Date: Jun 2001
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Nothing new for the Saudis (or Delta <g> ). A few years ago they landed a 747 at the wrong airport in Madras after repeated ATC warnings and flares. The runway was much shorter but they got it stopped, blew the tires etc.
All the seats and galleys were removed to limp the aircraft over to the real airport a few miles away...
All the seats and galleys were removed to limp the aircraft over to the real airport a few miles away...
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I just heard it on the local radio on the way home.
Apparently the incident happened 3 weeks ago, although details are only just comming to light.
It happened whilst the vehicle was performing a runway inspection shortly before handing the runway back over to ATC after completing routine resurfacing work.
"The A/C landed about 1.5 miles behind the vehicle which carreered off the runway after spotting it in it's rear view mirror, avoiding a catastrophe" (local radio's words) "at aircraft landing speeds this is just seconds from disaster..." (they went on)
Must have given them a hell of a shock anyway.
Lucky escape.
Cheers.
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Invalid Delete Say "Late Pax : Off with their Heads !!!"
"....OK, well start with their bags then..."
Apparently the incident happened 3 weeks ago, although details are only just comming to light.
It happened whilst the vehicle was performing a runway inspection shortly before handing the runway back over to ATC after completing routine resurfacing work.
"The A/C landed about 1.5 miles behind the vehicle which carreered off the runway after spotting it in it's rear view mirror, avoiding a catastrophe" (local radio's words) "at aircraft landing speeds this is just seconds from disaster..." (they went on)
Must have given them a hell of a shock anyway.
Lucky escape.Cheers.
------------------
Invalid Delete Say "Late Pax : Off with their Heads !!!"
"....OK, well start with their bags then..."
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Local radio were implying that it was a mix up between BAA and ATC. They were saying that there was a possible mix up with the handover from BAA to ATC.
Does anyone know whether the 777 was CLEARED to land on the wrong runway, or did the pilots mix up L and R? This obviously makes a big difference. Is there a preliminary report out, or just the usual press speculation?
Does anyone know whether the 777 was CLEARED to land on the wrong runway, or did the pilots mix up L and R? This obviously makes a big difference. Is there a preliminary report out, or just the usual press speculation?
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Maybe the question should be asked again. Why use the same designation (09/27) for both runways. Why not 09/27 and 08/26 or whatever you like but using the same designation just makes it easier to get it wrong. I know that CYYZ at one time had enough incidents of mix ups that they saw fit to issue bulletins about it.
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Methinks that you are barking up the wrong tree. From my limited experience of jumpseating into LHR on these aircraft, there is NO WAY that an aircraft can end up approaching the wrong runway.
As for comments about the crews nationality, how do you know that it wasnt flown by a British expat?
Mutt.
As for comments about the crews nationality, how do you know that it wasnt flown by a British expat?
Mutt.
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Much wild speculation, most of it way off track. There was an incident, it is the subject of an investigation, lessons have been learnt and procedures have been changed. Please wait for the final outcome. The identity of the airline involved is not a significant factor. Heathrow has come in for some bad publicity over the past few days; please try to put things in perspective. Last week we broke our daily movement record - 1353. The ATC Watches are working very hard under great duress to move the aircraft safely and expeditiously, but they are only human after all. Any incident is one too many, but serious incidents are few and far between. Please acknowledge that fact.
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Indeed, don't blame the Saudi. In my twelve years there I found that at least half of the incidents were done by expats. For example, northbound in a TriStar over Cairo at FL310, the flight was told to reduce speed to cross METRU at ....UTC. The Captain (PF) decided the best way to do this was to extend flaps to 4 degrees (at M.86). Result: two slat sections went "missing" and four others were ah.....bent. The Captain: British expat!
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Airbubba, wrong, there was not one single warning from Madras (Chennai) ATC at all. They requested a visual approach which was, against Indian law, granted and they "forgot"
to turn final into MAA...instead they continued straight ahead for the 1900 mtrs RWY...and no, not so many tyres blown...
to turn final into MAA...instead they continued straight ahead for the 1900 mtrs RWY...and no, not so many tyres blown...
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Nightrider,
Almost correct, you need to add the bit about the missed approach, the wide visual circuit which ended up at the military airfield, the worlds shortest B747 landing and the fact that before the wheels hit the ground, they knew that they were in the wrong place!
You could also add the part about the pax sitting on the aircraft for 5 hours before they could get them off.
And before anyone asks, it didnt takeoff from the same runway.
As for the Captain, I believe that he was asked to "retire".
Mutt.
Almost correct, you need to add the bit about the missed approach, the wide visual circuit which ended up at the military airfield, the worlds shortest B747 landing and the fact that before the wheels hit the ground, they knew that they were in the wrong place!
You could also add the part about the pax sitting on the aircraft for 5 hours before they could get them off.
And before anyone asks, it didnt takeoff from the same runway.
As for the Captain, I believe that he was asked to "retire".
Mutt.
