Heathrow runways closed - BA Emergency landing 24/05

Just heard both runways closed at Heathrow, BA aircraft evacuated on Northern runway, all crew and passengers safe, hope all is OK

Breaking news on BBC, a British Airways plane has been evacuated and both Heathrow runways are closed. All passengers safe. No further news.

On Twitter the story says a BA plane lost an engine on take off ... not sure why by runways are closed and it's a police operation though!

That goodness it's not a major incident, that's what immediately what comes into mind when you hear news like that. However closing the runways will cause chaos on this busy holiday weekend

I did think the skies were rather quiet above Wimbledon Common.
Hope everything is OK.

I did think the skies were rather quiet above Wimbledon Common.
Hope everything is OK.

Walking your dog or do you live in the area? Just off Parkside myself.

I did think the skies were rather quiet above Wimbledon Common.
Hope everything is OK.

Walking your dog or do you live in the area? Just off Parkside myself.

I live in Kingston Vale myself, just about to go out my walk my dog.

BBC News reporting a possible Bird strike, South runway just opening up now.

Virgin Flight Status page not showing anything untoward yet so must be a bit of confusion going on at the moment. Anyone currently in the CH hearing anything? Might be a long day of drinking ahead..

Reports seem to be very mixed so far. Almost a 50/50 split between it being an "emergency landing" and an aborted takeoff due to an engine fire. (Or could the latter be technically called an "emergency landing" anyway?)

UPDATE: Looks like the plane actually did get airborne and had to fly back around.

[Neil]

Threads merged to keep all discussed in one place

Looks like the VS3012 diverted to LTN and the VS002 diverted to LGW. So knock on effects going to be felt on the domestic operation and L/H operation too.

Oh no...... diverted to Luton..... Does it get any worse !

New Malden here so usual run of aircraft gone quiet..... With the amount of damn cloud up ther cannot see a thing.... Usual Bank Holiday weather !

[Darren Wheeler]

The usual bullocks being spouted about "I though the plane was going to explode..."

Sloppy journalism award of the day goes to, no surprise, the DM (spit). Showing a video of BA38 from 2008.

The usual bullocks being spouted about "I though the plane was going to explode..."

Sloppy journalism award of the day goes to, no surprise, the DM (spit). Showing a video of BA38 from 2008.

BBC London just played clip of passenger saying the crew were outstanding.

Thankfully not all media are sensationalist.

Little Red to EDI look like they are picking up all the BA pax - all flights full later and LHR departures showing them operating normally.

Looks like it would have been nervy, and great skill by pilot and crew, news showing in air video of cowling missing from left engine, and ground video of fire from right hand engine.
Good to see all ended well

I did think the skies were rather quiet above Wimbledon Common.
Hope everything is OK.

Walking your dog or do you live in the area? Just off Parkside myself.

I live in Kingston Vale myself, just about to go out my walk my dog.

BBC News reporting a possible Bird strike, South runway just opening up now.

#waves from Balham. Is there a South West London V-Flyer posse ??

Latest from the BBC

According to the VS flight stats page most flights are operating normally with some delays but 1 MAN flight (and return cancelled)

At LHR now and things are slowly returning to normal. The VS 45 and 11 just been called from the lounge. Looks like there will not be a delay for me later on, but lets see how things play out whilst I consume the contents of the clubhouse liquor cabinet.

Looks like it would have been nervy, and great skill by pilot and crew, news showing in air video of cowling missing from left engine, and ground video of fire from right hand engine.
Good to see all ended well

Reported as a bird strike on the port side engine:

http://video.repubblica.it/mondo/heathr ... 446/127949

Notice how some of the passengers have left the aircraft with their hand luggage.

[Darren Wheeler]

From AV Herald

http://avherald.com/h?article=462beb5e&opt=0

Looks like the MAN flight was cancelled in order to operate the second LHR-EDI. I know the loads on the EDI flights today were already mostly in the 100's. Possibly the best option with least impact after the EDI-LHR diverted to LTN?

G

I note nothing on the VS FB page about this or possible delays.

VS really don't 'get' the use of social media do they? They really do need to be a bit more proactive rather than reactive.

Even on the main website it all looks like an after-thought.

Nothing about checking in as normal etc etc

From AV Herald
http://avherald.com/h?article=462beb5e&opt=0

Very interesting post; thanks Darren.

I'm glad everybody is ok, certainly an incident to test your trousers although looks like the crew were outstanding and professional.

The thing I dont' get is they did a u-turn over Essex and headed back over Central London. Why not Stansted?

Typically all UK domestic flights cancelled until 4pm to let them catch up so once again Scotland and the north gets a 2nd class service.

I note nothing on the VS FB page about this or possible delays.

VS really don't 'get' the use of social media do they? They really do need to be a bit more proactive rather than reactive.

Even on the main website it all looks like an after-thought.

Nothing about checking in as normal etc etc

Lol, the benefit of the man on the ground... check in area was a bit busy but staff were very visable and were good and helping people that looked a bit lost.

Had a brief chat with greeter by the desks and he let me know that the delays were under control and should not be affecting my flight y)

Same goes for the staff at the clubhouse and the visible presence of red jackets around the departure lounge, who needs facebook

Looks like the incident was well managed so well done to the BA CC. Glad everyone is safe.

I wasn't expecting them to provide instant updates but there has been nothing on the VS FB page about this - even to say 'we are now back to normal working'

Even on the website it was hardly noticable.

I'm sure the staff at LHR were well primed and put the necessary plans into place quickly etc - and from what you say it looks like they put their plans into place quickly - but with the importance of social media these days you'd think they would have at least put a couple of posts up - even if to say 'all normal now'.