A British Airways flight carrying 180 passengers experienced a serious near-miss incident over London when the aircraft stalled at approximately 4,000 feet. The event, which occurred on July 6, is being investigated as potentially the most severe near-miss in the UK in years.
The incident involved Flight BA919, traveling from Dusseldorf to Heathrow Airport. While flying over Canary Wharf, the Airbus A320 stalled, a condition where the wings lift to a point that the aircraft's weight is no longer supported, risking a nosedive. This aerodynamic stall is distinct from engine failure.
Sources indicate that a failure in one of the plane's air data systems, which provide critical information such as airspeed, may have triggered the stall. The first officer reportedly attempted to rectify the issue, but the captain was compelled to intervene to regain control of the aircraft.
Experts described the situation as potentially leading to 'hull loss,' meaning the aircraft could have been destroyed or severely damaged. The circumstances requiring a captain's direct intervention to resolve a critical flight issue are described as unusual within the aviation industry.
The incident has been classified as 'Loss of Control In-flight' and labeled 'Pilot Induced.' The Air Accidents Investigation Branch is reportedly investigating the serious incident, and British Airways has stated it is cooperating with the inquiry. The captain involved is understood to be on stress leave.
British Airways operates approximately 19 direct flights weekly between Dusseldorf and London Heathrow, with a typical flight time of 1 hour and 30 minutes.