A320, vicinity London Heathrow UK, 2019

A320, vicinity London Heathrow UK, 2019

Summary

On 23 September 2019, the flight crew of an Airbus A320 on approach to London Heathrow detected strong acrid fumes on the flight deck and after donning oxygen masks completed the approach and landing, exited the runway and shut down on a taxiway. After removing their masks, one pilot became incapacitated and the other unwell and both were taken to hospital. The other occupants, all unaffected, were disembarked to buses. The very comprehensive investigation was unable to establish the origin of the fumes but did identify a number of circumstantial factors which corresponded to those identified in previous similar events.

Description

On 23 September 2019, an Airbus A320 (G-EUYB) being operated by British Airways on a scheduled international passenger flight from Zurich to London Heathrow was passing 4000 feet QNH in day VMC on an ILS approach to destination runway 27L when “strong acrid fumes” were detected on the flight deck. Both pilots donned oxygen masks, a ‘PAN’ was declared to ATC and after landing without further consequences, the aircraft was stopped once clear of the runway. The absence of any smell in the passenger cabin was confirmed but when the pilots removed their masks, the First Officer became incapacitated and after the engines had been shut down, both pilots were taken to hospital with “minor injury” recorded and all other unaffected occupants then disembarked by bus.

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