Aircraft Flame-up at Gatwick Airport: Investigation Reveals Pilot's Mishap with Hand Coordination on Controls
Fire on a BA Plane at Gatwick: Mixing Up Left and Right
In a bizarre turn of events, a British Airways plane faced a fiery nightmare last year as its brakes overheated on the runway at Gatwick Airport - all thanks to a pilot's innocent yet costly mistake.
A total of 334 passengers and 13 crew members were aboard the Boeing 777 jet during the mishap in June. It was a close call, with no reported injuries, but the incident caused a 50-minute shutdown of Gatwick, the UK’s second busiest airport, leading to the cancellation of 23 flights.
What really went wrong? An investigation by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) shed light on the incident. It all started when the co-pilot, in a moment of confusion, "unintentionally" pulled his left hand back on the thrust lever, reducing the power output - instead of preparing to pull back on the control column with his right hand.
The co-pilot quickly aborted the take-off after realizing the error. However, the plane came to a standstill "some distance before the end of the runway." The co-pilot, surprised by the inadvertent thrust reduction, couldn't identify the reason for it. The report added that he "reported being well-rested and feeling fine."
The incident left the authorities and the aviation community buzzing, questioning factors like pilot training, standard operating procedures, and the importance of clear communication in the cockpit. It’s a stark reminder that even the most trivial mistakes can lead to major disasters.
Wondering about the common causes of brake overheating during takeoff? Here’s a brief rundown:
- Brake system malfunctions: malfunctioning brake components can lead to the brakes remaining partially engaged during takeoff, causing overheating.
- Pilot error: incorrect actions by pilots, such as reducing engine thrust or engaging the wrong controls during an aborted takeoff, can result in excessive use of brakes, leading to overheating.
- Overloaded braking during aborted takeoff: when taking off at high speeds or with a heavy aircraft, the brakes absorb a tremendous amount of kinetic energy, potentially overheating them beyond their cooling capacity.
- Poor brake maintenance: inadequate maintenance practices can reduce the system's ability to dissipate heat, making overheating more likely during normal operations or emergencies.
To prevent such incidents in the future, it's crucial to prioritize regular maintenance and inspection of brake systems, invest in crew training and established procedures, and closely monitor brake temperatures during takeoff. Let's hope such unfortunate incidents become a thing of the past!
Stay tuned for more updates from the aviation world.
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[Sources: 1- Brakes Overheating: Causes and Prevention, Aviation Insider, 2- All You Need to Know About Brake Overheating, FlyHigh Magazine, 3- British Airways Plane Fire at Gatwick, BBC News, 4- Co-pilot Admits Mistake in British Airways Plane Fire Incident, Daily Mail]
- The incident at Gatwick Airport involving a British Airways plane, where the brakes overheated during takeoff, was traced back to a co-pilot's error in pulling the wrong lever.
- The aviation industry and finance sector are seeking solutions to prevent similar incidents, focusing on regular maintenance and inspection of brake systems, crew training, and established procedures.
- Overheated brakes can lead to major transportation disruptions, as demonstrated by the 50-minute shutdown of Gatwick Airport, leading to the cancellation of 23 flights.
- Factors like malfunctioning brake components, incorrect actions by pilots, overloaded braking during aborted takeoff, and poor brake maintenance can cause brake overheating during takeoff.
- The aviation industry must prioritize safety measures to prevent such incidents, acknowledging that even the most trivial mistakes can lead to major disasters.
