British Airways flight ‘seconds from disaster’ after stalling over London

The Airbus A320 plane is said to have stalled 4,000ft above London (Picture: Maureen McLean/Shutterstock)

A British Airways flight was just ‘seconds from disaster’ over London after a near-catastrophic error, it has been reported.

Sources claim that the Airbus A320 stalled on its approach to London Heathrow on Flight BA919 from Dusseldorf on July 6 after an air data systems failure.

Following the first officer’s failed attempt to fix the problem, it reportedly required physical intervention from the pilot.

The incident, which took place 4,000 feet above Canary Wharf, has been described as the ‘most serious “near miss” in the UK in years’, a source told The Sun.

‘To recover from this position is difficult, especially so low to the ground,’ the source said.

‘It is unheard of for a captain to physically intervene in the cockpit.’

The British Airways flight was approaching London Heathrow from Dusseldorf on July 6 when an air data systems failiure is said to have occured (Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire)

Senior figures also claimed that the plane almost suffered a ‘hull loss’, which is an aviation term for when an aircraft is seriously damaged or destroyed.

The captain of the flight is now understood to be on ‘stress leave’.

Meanwhile, the incident has been reported as a ‘loss of control in-flight’ and branded as being ‘pilot induced’.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has now launched a probe into the ‘serious incident’.

British Airways, who operate roughly 19 direct flights per week between Dusseldorf Airport and Heathrow, said it was assisting the investigation.

The Civil Aviation Authority also said it could not comment on an ongoing review.

Metro has contacted British Airways for comment.

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