British Airways Airbus A320 near stall triggers Heathrow mayday
A British Airways Airbus A320 near stall on approach to Heathrow prompted a mayday after two stall warnings on 6 July. French investigators said a data-system failure triggered the alerts; the jet then flew in alternate law before landing safely. The UK AAIB is investigating the serious incident.
Key Takeaways
- Flight BA919, an Airbus A320 from Dusseldorf, issued a mayday on approach to Heathrow on 6 July after stall warnings.
- France's BEA said a data-system failure triggered a stall warning; the crew then flew in alternate law, which removes some automated protections.
- A second stall warning occurred at about 3,000 feet before the jet landed without further incident.
- The UK AAIB is treating it as a serious incident via a correspondence investigation.
According to BBC News, the distress call followed two stall warnings on the Airbus A320. British Airways said it is assisting the AAIB and cannot comment further at this stage.
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What triggered the Airbus A320 near stall warnings?
The French Air Safety Investigation Authority (BEA) said that as the plane approached Heathrow, a data system failure triggered a stall warning.
The crew then operated in "alternate law," a mode that removes some automated flight protection systems. Another stall warning then occurred at 3,000 feet—experts told the BBC that was likely just miles from the airport.
The Daily Beast reported that an airspeed-measuring system failed on flight BA919 and that the captain took physical control after the co-pilot could not resolve the issue. It placed the drama at about 4,000 feet over London's Canary Wharf financial district. The BBC's BEA-linked account cites the later warning at 3,000 feet.
How serious was the British Airways mayday call?
The crew had already made an urgency call, which was upgraded to mayday—indicating imminent danger. The aircraft then landed without further incident.
Aviation safety investigator David Gleave told the BBC that urgency messages are "not unusual," but a mayday for a significant onboard failure is rare. The Daily Beast cited sources calling it the UK's "most serious near miss" in years and noting experts' warnings of a possible "hull loss." It also reported the captain was placed on "stress leave."
What happens next in the investigation?
The AAIB said it is investigating a serious incident involving a commercial aircraft on 6 July on approach to Heathrow. It will be a correspondence investigation, meaning no field team will be sent.
The BEA website attributed its statement to the AAIB, but the AAIB would not confirm that wording was from them. British Airways said it is assisting investigators and is not legally able to comment further.