BA jet seconds from disaster in US 'near collision'

[mpenguin1]

A packed British Airways jet was just seconds from disaster after plummeting out of the sky in a dramatic near miss over America, it has emerged.

BA flight 2166 carrying 175 terrified passengers, three pilots and 11 crew plunged 600 feet in a bid to avoid collision with another plane above it.
Two passengers and four crew members were injured in the dramatic incident which took place at 16,500 feet just 15 minutes after take off from Tampa in Florida.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...e_id=1770&ct=5

[AlexF]

Intersting, I looked arount the interent and could only find 1 news article about this incident from the U.S. (although Bloomberg is also in the UK) let's compare (keep in mind this is a British jet in America)

UK "A packed British Airways jet was just seconds from disaster after plummeting out of the sky in a dramatic near miss over America, it has emerged."

US "British Airways Plc said a plane with 175 passengers and 11 crew onboard ``narrowly'' avoided a mid-air collision earlier this week after taking off from Tampa, Florida en route to London's Gatwick airport.

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UK "The emergency collision avoidance system on the Boeing 777 plane kicked in over the Atlantic Ocean, causing lights to flash and an alarm to sound in the cockpit, with the pilot hearing the words "descend,descend,descend."

US "The plane's collision avoidance system, or TCAS, helped to prevent a crash by telling the British Airways pilots to descend, while they were under U.S. air traffic control

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UK "Two passengers and four crew members were injured in the dramatic incident

US "Two passengers and four crew received ``minor injuries,'"

[TXaviator]

score one for TCAS!!

[AlexF]

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UK "The descent was so sudden that some of the crew members left the floor, went into "freefall" and hit their heads on the ceiling of the plane as it plummeted.

Others slammed into the bulkheads. All four crew were stood down from their duties while being treated for bruises on board in the Club cabin for the remainder of the flight.

US "The descent was so sudden that some crew members struck their heads on the ceiling of the plane as it descended"

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UK "BA flight 2166 carrying 175 terrified passengers, three pilots and 11 crew plunged 600 feet in a bid to avoid collision with another plane above it.

US "BA flight 2166 had to abruptly dive 600 feet (180 meters) while at 16,500 feet to avoid a collision with an unidentified aircraft "

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UK "BA confirmed last night that the near miss is now being formally investigated by the US Federal Aviation Administration."

US "'There is investigation by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration of the incident,'"

*No wonder everyone hates America! Anyway just thought it was interesting how the two compare.
UK source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...e_id=1770&ct=5
US source: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...7aQBo&refer=us

[Maximillian_Jenius]

What is a 777 doing with only 175 people on it...that flight doesn't sound profitable!

[Kristie]

BA's 777 has 229 seats on it, it's over 75% full...that's plenty profitable.

[mpenguin1]

Originally Posted by Maximillian_Jenius

What is a 777 doing with only 175 people on it...that flight doesn't sound profitable!

Max

Don't forget each airplane is configured differently for the airline

14 First Class Sleeper pods
48 Flat bed seats
40 Economy Plus seats
127 Economy Seats

http://seatguru.com/airlines/British...ng_777-200.php

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Originally Posted by mpenguin1

Max

Don't forget each airplane is configured differently for the airline

14 First Class Sleeper pods
48 Flat bed seats
40 Economy Plus seats
127 Economy Seats

http://seatguru.com/airlines/British...ng_777-200.php

Thanks for the correction. When I first think of 175 pax on a plane my first thought is 757. Prior to being schooled in this thread I thought most heavies would leave with 200-250 pax depending on configuration.

But again thanks for the correction.

[ananoman]

A RA from TCAS is a pretty gentle maneuver. Seems like the UK tabloids were having a slow news day.

[fo4ever]

Originally Posted by ananoman

A RA from TCAS is a pretty gentle maneuver. Seems like the UK tabloids were having a slow news day.

You're kidding, right?

Have you had an RA in IMC?

[Doug Taylor]

In the Mad Dog, it's anything but gentle. More like you're on final approach, all trimmed up and then someone blows the Class B airspace over SLC #2 and then BANG! 4000 fpm climb commanded, it starts screaming, the captain wakes up, grabs his soduko puzzle, you slap it out of his hand and say "look for the airplane, doofus, I'm climbing!"

[fo4ever]

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

In the Mad Dog, it's anything but gentle. More like you're on final approach, all trimmed up and then someone blows the Class B airspace over SLC #2 and then BANG! 4000 fpm climb commanded, it starts screaming, the captain wakes up, grabs his soduko puzzle, you slap it out of his hand and say "look for the airplane, doofus, I'm climbing!"

That was funny. Soduku!

I had an RA in IMC in an ATR, and it was not funny.

My Captain was former PATCO (fired by Reagan), and feathers flew over that one!

[bdhill1979]

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

In the Mad Dog, it's anything but gentle. More like you're on final approach, all trimmed up and then someone blows the Class B airspace over SLC #2 and then BANG! 4000 fpm climb commanded, it starts screaming, the captain wakes up, grabs his soduko puzzle, you slap it out of his hand and say "look for the airplane, doofus, I'm climbing!"

That never happens at SLC deuce.

[asl]

Note comparison of news articles was using a UK tabloid, not a proper newspaper such as The Times, which would no doubt have had an article that was much closer to the Bloomberg one you quoted.

[ananoman]

Originally Posted by fo4ever

You're kidding, right?

Have you had an RA in IMC?

The only time I have ever gotten an RA is at lower altitude. Most of the time, the climb/descent rate was less than 2000 FPM and we only have to change altitude by 500' or so.

[Bandit_Driver]

I'll have to agree with Doug, RA's are anything but gentle when in IMC. Especially when you don't get a preceeding TA.

Doug you just have to love the Climb RA followed by the increase climb command to 6000 fpm...Serious pucker factor...

[Bandit_Driver]

Originally Posted by ananoman

The only time I have ever gotten an RA is at lower altitude. Most of the time, the climb/descent rate was less than 2000 FPM and we only have to change altitude by 500' or so.

You should fly the IAD to HPN low route (below 7000). TA/RA are the norm...

[Maximillian_Jenius]

What're both a TA & an RA in respect to TCAS?

[TFaudree_ERAU]

Originally Posted by Maximillian_Jenius

What is a 777 doing with only 175 people on it...that flight doesn't sound profitable!

Better yet, why the heck was the plane only at 16,500 after 15 minutes?