ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 186513
Last updated: 24 December 2020
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| Date: | 17-APR-2016 |
| Time: | 12:50 LT |
| Type: |  Airbus A320-232 |
| Owner/operator: | British Airways |
| Registration: | G-EUYP |
| C/n / msn: | 5784 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 137 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Minor |
| Location: | Over Richmond Park, Surrey, East of London Heathrow Airport -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Passenger - Scheduled |
| Departure airport: | Geneva, Switzerland (GVA) |
| London Heathrow Airport (LHR/EGLL) |
A British Airways Airbus A320-200, registration G-EUYP performing flight BA-727 from Geneva (Switzerland) to London Heathrow, UK with 132 passengers and 5 crew, was on final approach to Heathrow's runway 27L when the crew reported a drone had impacted the aircraft. The A320 continued for a safe landing on runway 27L and taxied to the apron.
The airline reported the aircraft received minor damage, when an object impacted the nose section of the aircraft. The aircraft was fully examined and has already been cleared to depart for its next flight.
London Police reported an object believed to be a drone impacted the nose of the aircraft. No arrests have been made so far, the investigation is ongoing. The occurrence aircraft was able to resume service 2 hours after landing.
Subsequent press reports have stated that the collision was not with a UAV ("drone") at all, but with a plastic shopping bag blown into the aircraft's path by the prevailing winds (see link #2), Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has told MPs it is believed "that was not a drone incident".
An investigation by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has been closed because of lack of evidence. A spokesman said: "We made initial inquiries but there was insufficient information on what object was involved for us to take it further."
Sources:
1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36067591
2. http://news.sky.com/story/1686760/ba-plane-strike-did-not-involve-a-drone
3. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/21/drone-believed-to-have-hit-british-airways-flight-may-have-been/
4. http://avherald.com/h?article=4970605b&opt=0
Media:
British media reporting an object—possibly a drone—struck #BA727 prior to landing. https://t.co/M04NikNvLM pic.twitter.com/4heJfLy8ya
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) April 17, 2016
Advice on flying your drone safely https://t.co/Np3p7YqAJF #droneaware
— UK CAA (@UK_CAA) April 17, 2016
AAIB is investigating last night’s event involving a #UAV and a passenger #aircraft approaching London #Heathrow
— AAIB (@aaibgovuk) April 18, 2016
Images:
Photo of G-EUYP courtesy AirHistory.net
London - Heathrow (EGLL / LHR)
14 September 2019; (c) Stephen Rendle
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 17-Apr-2016 18:36 | Aerossurance | Added |
| 17-Apr-2016 18:38 | Aerossurance | Updated [Cn, Total occupants, Embed code, Narrative, Plane category] |
| 17-Apr-2016 18:39 | Aerossurance | Updated [Location, Narrative] |
| 18-Apr-2016 07:16 | Aerossurance | Updated [Embed code, Narrative] |
| 18-Apr-2016 09:14 | Aerossurance | Updated [Embed code, Narrative] |
| 29-Apr-2016 14:46 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Location, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 16-Sep-2017 16:19 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
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