BA57 Heathrow to JNB

[speedbird1960]

Hi Ian.

It was built in 1992, i reckon it must be due for retirement soon.

http://www.planespotters.net/search.php?q=G-BNLU

The Boeing 747 has one of the best safety records in the business.

Mike / Speedbird

[Ian1967]

Indeed they were ... my wife was on board. People were very concerned/frightened by the fireballs outside. My wife and I like to watch air crash investigation so she was pretty confident that she knew it was surging and not the engine blowing apart, but she did admit the thought went through her mind too! I think anyone on the right side with a view of the engine would have been very concerned.

Not good for British Airways, not good for B747-400. I feel they will have to investigate to find out what happened here.
Maybe check all the fleet of their 747's to make sure that they are alright too. Some of these plane's are so old now and this G-BNLU as been around for years. Not sure how old it is, does anybody know?

I'm glad your Wife was alright after quite an experience I expect.
Regards
Ian.

[scanhorse]

British Airways B744 at London on Feb 22nd 2012, engine shut down in flight

http://www.avherald.com/h?article=44b5a5c2&opt=0

[ih8modem]

Thanks for this about BA57. It seamed to have afew problems then. Cosh its a good job the Captain got the plane back into Heathrow. I'm sure the passengers was wondering what was happening to their flight to JNB...

Indeed they were ... my wife was on board. People were very concerned/frightened by the fireballs outside. My wife and I like to watch air crash investigation so she was pretty confident that she knew it was surging and not the engine blowing apart, but she did admit the thought went through her mind too! I think anyone on the right side with a view of the engine would have been very concerned.

[Ian1967]

Thanks for this about BA57. It seamed to have afew problems then. Cosh its a good job the Captain got the plane back into Heathrow. I'm sure the passengers was wondering what was happening to their flight to JNB...

[ih8modem]

BA57 had various delays and departed around 2 hours late. On takeoff one of the right engines started surging apparently (reports of balls of flame from engine) which was followed by it being shut down and the plane returned to LHR. The Captain reported it to the passengers as an engine failure. Passengers were sent to the Sofitel hotel overnight and the new plane departed LHR earlier this morning, albeit almost an hour later than the updated departure time of 09:45.

[Ian1967]

Thats ok then. Thanks Gregg. Nice to know that the aircraft landed safely. I just notice something was abit strange and wasn't quite right by the way this Boeing 747 was flying around over the English Channel.

Thanks again.
regards
Ian.

[fungus]

flight number BA57 (callsign BAW57K) has returned to LHR with an apparent engine problem with one of its 4 engines

regards,
gregg

[Ian1967]

Been tracking BA57 on flightradar24.com (LHR-JNB) and the aircraft as made a very slow climb from LHR up to 10000ft, and is now circling over the English Channel, seems to be burning off fuel.

Any info? Aircraft is G-BNLU (B744)

Ian.