Heathrow crash investigated

Passengers are enduring delays and cancellations at Heathrow today as the investigation continues into the dramatic crash landing of a British Airways jet.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) will tomorrow give the first indication of what might have happened in the last few moments before the Boeing 777 arrived at the west London airport.

AAIB chief inspector David King promised an initial report into the accident "within 48 hours" and a preliminary report within 30 days.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown was among those who praised BA's captain Peter Burkill, 43, whose actions limited casualties among the 136 passengers to just 18 minor injuries despite extensive damage to the plane, which had flown in from Beijing.

The Boeing just cleared a fence by a busy perimeter road before skidding across the grass short of the runway and pulling up around 1,000 metres from a plane about to take Mr Brown on an official visit to Beijing.

Arriving later on a delayed flight in the Chinese capital, Mr Brown said: "I think it's right to pay tribute to the calmness and professionalism of the British Airways staff and the captain and what he achieved in landing the aircraft.

"The speed of the evacuation we saw at first hand, and the total professionalism and dedication of the staff. It's at times like these you remember you are in the hands of staff who do a remarkable job.

"When we arrived at the airport, we knew there was an incident taking place and at the same time we saw the evacuation taking place very quickly indeed. I'm very pleased to hear people are safe."

As the wrecked Boeing remained in its final position across the end of a runway at Heathrow, passengers at the airport faced delays and cancellations.

BA axed 12 flights and there were long queues at Heathrow's Terminal 1.

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