'Seconds from disaster': UK plane with 180 onboard had a close shave before landing
A British Airways flight experienced a critical air data system failure while approaching London Heathrow, leading to a near-stall incident. Investigators have classified the event as a serious 'pilot induced' loss of control incident.
Why it matters
Aviation safety incidents of this magnitude are rare and trigger rigorous international investigations to prevent future mechanical or human-error disasters.
A British Airways flight carrying around 180 passengers was reportedly "seconds from disaster" after stalling during its approach to London Heathrow, prompting an investigation into what has been described as one of the UK's most serious aviation near misses in years.According to report by the Daily Mail, the incident took place on July 6 aboard Flight BA919 from Düsseldorf as the Airbus A320 was descending over Canary Wharf in east London. The aircraft was flying at around 4,000ft when one of its air data systems, which provides critical information such as airspeed, reportedly failed.The system failure is understood to have triggered a stall — a dangerous condition in which an aircraft's wings lose enough lift to maintain controlled flight. Unlike a car engine stalling, an aircraft stall does not mean the engines stop.
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