Air Crash Investigation - S10E02 The Heathrow Enigma (British Airways Flight 38)

Description

On 17 January 2008, during short final both of British Airways Flight 38's engines suddenly roll back to idle. The Captain raises one notch of flaps which gives them a few more feet of flying distance. The aircraft passes over the A30 moterway and crashes just short of the runway. There were no fatalities, but 47 people sustained injuries. The fuel flow to both engines was restricted because of ice crystals causing a blockage in the fuel-oil heat exchangers (FOHE). Another similar incident occured on 26 November 2008, when Delta Air Lines Flight 18's engines rolled back to idle at 39,000 feet. That Boeing 777 landed safely at Atlanta.

Type of aircraft: Boeing 777-236ER.
Cause of disaster: Fuel starvation caused by ice.

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