Ice blamed for Heathrow plane crash

Sep 4 2008 By Nina Rossi

Heathrow crash

Crash investigators believe they may have uncovered the cause of the mysterious engine failure that saw a plane lose power over Bedfont in January.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), which has been desperately trying to find out why the British Airways Boeing 777 crash landed at Heathrow on January 17, now believes the breakdown may have been caused by ice crystals forming in the engine.

Having re-created Siberian flying conditions at a Boeing warehouse in Seattle, the team found that enough ice crystals could have been formed to block the flow despite high quality fuel and cold, but not unusual, flying conditions.

The exact way in which the ice caused the blockage remains unknown, but the AAIB has recommended that interim measures reducing the risk of ice are implemented imediately for all 777s with Trent engines.

Investigators also recommended the European Aviation Safety and the Federal Aviation Administration take immediate action to consider the implications of its report, and ensure that all aircraft can withstand similar conditions.

The AAIB believes this is the only recorded case of its kind in history.