Plane crash-lands at Heathrow

An international passenger plane has crash-landed short of the south runway at Heathrow Airport after losing its rear undercarriage.

All 136 passengers and 16 crew escaped from the British Airways flight BA038 from Beijing. Six people have been taken to hospital with minor injuries.An airport worker told the BBC that the pilot said he had lost all power and had to glide the plane into land.All BA shorthaul flights from Heathrow have been cancelled and others delayed.The BBC’s Angus Crawford said the worker, who was not identified, said the pilot told him all the electronics had also failed.BA refused to comment on the report and said it would not speculate on the cause of the crash.The incident happened at 12h42, as Prime Minister Gordon Brown was due to leave Heathrow for China and India.His flight was delayed because of the incident.Downing Street said at about 14h30 GMT that Gordon Brown had taken off.The south runway is closed while investigators examine the scene – the north runway remains open.Police have said the incident involving the Boeing 777 was not terror-related.The Department of Transport has launched an investigation.BBC NewsSix people have been taken to hospital with minor injuries.An airport worker told the BBC that the pilot said he had lost all power and had to glide the plane into land.All BA shorthaul flights from Heathrow have been cancelled and others delayed.The BBC’s Angus Crawford said the worker, who was not identified, said the pilot told him all the electronics had also failed.BA refused to comment on the report and said it would not speculate on the cause of the crash.The incident happened at 12h42, as Prime Minister Gordon Brown was due to leave Heathrow for China and India.His flight was delayed because of the incident.Downing Street said at about 14h30 GMT that Gordon Brown had taken off.The south runway is closed while investigators examine the scene – the north runway remains open.Police have said the incident involving the Boeing 777 was not terror-related.The Department of Transport has launched an investigation.BBC News

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