Pilot Capt Burkill feared he was going to die in Heathrow crash-landing (From Hillingdon Times)

Pilot Capt Burkill feared he was going to die in Heathrow crash-landing

2:48pm Tuesday 9th February 2010

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ICE in the fuel system was to blame for the crash-landing of a British Airways Boeing 777 at Heathrow, according to an official report.

The airliner, flying in from Beijing, lost power in the last seconds of its final approach to the airport on January 17, 2008.

It was brought down safely just inside the perimeter fence, and none of its 152 passengers were seriously injured.

Pilot Peter Burkill said he mentally said 'goodbye' to his wife as the plane touched the ground because he feared he was going to die.

Speaking to the BBC today, Captain Burkill said: “When we impacted to the ground it was hard, but a relief as well.

“I became a passenger. I wasn't a captain at that point. We were in an aircraft that was sliding along the ground uncontrollably.

“At that point I did think it might be my time to die, so I said goodbye to my wife.”

He added he “couldn't believe” the cockpit crew survived the horror crash “with no sign of injury”.

In an official report hust published by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, Captain Burkill, who lives in Amersham, and co-pilot John Coward, were praised for their actions in preventing a bigger disaster.

Captain Burkill, 45, added he left British Airways after the crash for “personal reasons”.

The report said Captain Burkill had just 43 seconds to react after becoming aware of a possible problem with the plane.

He said: “There was very little communication. I had no time to communicate my decisions with my crew – there were seconds to react.”

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