Pilot error blamed after London-bound British Airways plane crashed into building while using wrong taxiway at airport
Four workers were injured when the plane's right wing struck the building
Collision occurred at an airport near Johannesburg in December 2013
Report said there was a 'loss of situational awareness' by the flight crew
It cited a lack of proper lighting and signage as factors in the crash
Captain said some of the lights which guide planes were not illuminating
By CHRIS KITCHING FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 06:29 EST, 20 June 2015 | UPDATED: 10:38 EST, 20 June 2015
Investigators have blamed pilot error and shoddy infrastructure after a British Airways plane crashed into a brick building at Africa’s busiest airport, injuring four people on the ground. The Boeing 747-400’s wing sliced through the side of the maintenance building after the flight crew missed a turn while preparing for take-off at OR Tambo International Airport, near Johannesburg, for London.
A report into the December 2013 incident said there was confusion and a ‘loss of situational awareness’ within the cockpit due to a lack of proper lighting and signage, resulting in the plane taking the wrong path as it carried 202 passengers and crew. The Boeing 747-400’s wing sliced through the side of the maintenance building as it used the wrong taxiway. Four workers, who were inside the building, suffered minor injuries; no one on board the plane was injured
South Africa’s Civil Aviation Authority released the findings of its investigation this week, saying the crew – a 57-year-old pilot and 51-year-old co-pilot – did not conduct a pre-flight briefing to discuss the cleared route and did not refer to the correct taxiway information. The report said air traffic controllers gave instructions to push back from the gate and ‘then taxi using taxiway Bravo’ to a runway holding point.
Investigators wrote: ‘During the taxi, instead of turning to the left to follow Bravo, the crew continued straight ahead, crossing the intersection of taxiway Bravo and aircraft stand taxilane Mike. ‘After crossing the intersection, still being on Mike, the aircraft collided with a building.’ The plane's captain said some of the lights which guide planes were not illuminating in sequence
A report said the plane should have turned left on taxiway Bravo but instead continued straight ahead. Investigators found the ‘crew erred in thinking they were still taxiing on Bravo while in fact they were taxiing on Mike’.In a statement provided to investigators, flight BA034’s captain said some of the green centreline lights which guide planes on taxilane Bravo were not illuminating in sequence, ‘causing a false perception that the aircraft was still on taxilane Bravo,' and there was no signage indicating a change in taxiways.
He said the co-pilot voiced a concern about the width of the taxiway and the proximity of the building, but 'could not judge the proximity of the aircraft from the building because of the strong apron background glare'. Four BidAir Services workers, who were inside the building, suffered minor abrasions and lacerations when the plane’s wing clipped their workplace, said the report. None of the plane’s passengers or crew was injured, although the plane suffered extensive damage and a fuel spill from its right wing.
South Africa’s CAA released a number of safety recommendations, including a review of policies with British Airways and measures to improve lighting and signage to avoid further confusion for pilots. It also suggested the building be removed as it still poses a safety risk, and was nearly struck by an aircraft last April.
A British Airways spokesperson told MailOnline Travel: ‘Following this extremely rare and isolated incident we conducted a thorough investigation and acted on our findings in early 2014. ‘We will review any recommendations for additional safety learnings for the airline and welcome the specific recommendation for improvements to Johannesburg Airport's taxiway lighting and signage.’
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