Description

On 10 January 2009, a Boeing 747-400 being operated by British Airways on a scheduled passenger flight from Phoenix USA to London had been pushed back from the gate in normal daylight visibility and the engines start was continuing when fumes and smoke were observed in the cabin and flight deck. The aircraft commander decided to return to the stand but there was some delay while the tug was reconnected and the movement accomplished. The intensity of the fumes increased and as the aircraft came to a halt on the stand an emergency evacuation was ordered.

Investigation

An Investigation into the event was carried out by the UK AAIB on behalf of the State of the Operator with the agreement of the National Transportation Safety Board (USA) (NTSB) for the State of Occurrence.

It was found that about a minute after the first engine had been started, an acrid burning smell had been detected on the flight deck and in the cabin. On the flight deck, the fumes intensified and the pilots put on their oxygen masks. After a review of the situation, the aircraft commander decided to return the aircraft to the stand and disembark the passengers. The engines were shut down, the headset operator was advised that the tug, which had by this time been disconnected, should be reconnected, a PAN call was made to ATC and the cabin crew were instructed return the doors to the ‘manual’ position. It took a further four minutes to get the tug attached and a further four minutes to get the aircraft back on stand.