[Anonymous]

[TominScotland]

Reported on CNN (http://edition.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/08/27/uk.flight.scare/#fbid=1cZS2u98pmK&wom=false). Seems to have been missed here……. Because it was BA?

“Passengers on a British Airways flight from London to Hong Kong got a scare this week when a recorded announcement said the plane was making an emergency landing.

The recording, however, was triggered by a computer glitch — not by an actual emergency — and the cabin crew immediately told passengers it had been a mistake, a BA spokesman said Friday.

“We would like to apologize to passengers onboard the flight for causing them undue distress,” the airline said in a statement.

The Sun newspaper reported it happened as the plane, carrying 275 passengers, was over the North Sea. It quoted one passenger who said people were terrified to hear the recording, which said, “This is an emergency announcement. We may shortly need to make an emergency landing on water.””

[VintageKrug]

This is not unknown, see also Aer Lingus Dublin-Paris Sept 2009:

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/french-freakout-plane-makes-accidental-emergency-announcement-20090914-fmti.html

I would imagine most regular fliers on a plane in normal flight would recognise this for what it was; a malfunction.

The Sun is not unknown for hyperbole, especially during silly season, and I would very much doubt people were under the mistaken illusion that they might have to ditch for very long at all.

[LuganoPirate]

My understanding from an airline pilot’s site is that this was not a computer glitch but good old fashioned “Pilot Error”. Seems one of the pilots enabled the announcement accidently.

Indeed, most pax would have realized it was an error. Going over the channel the plane would most likely still be climbing. Had the plane been making a rapid descent then things might have been different and besides, there are plenty of airfields close to both sides of the channel for an emergency landing if required.

On top, the retraction was immediate so by the time it had registered and people were taking it in, the situation would have been immediately calmed.

Still, it makes for a good headline as you say VK!

[TominScotland]

Not just hyperbole from The Sun, VK. The Independent covered this in some depth yesterday and included quotes from passengers who were clearly destressed by the experience. Maybe, just on this occasion, we should lift this site’s frequent blanket exoneration of all things BA and acknowledge an unfortunate experience for these passengers?

[HonestCrew]

This announcement is designed to grab everyone’s attention and the voice is very imposing. No doubt it would have worried quite a few pax, can’t blame them, for some definitely a ‘Code Brown’ situation. The crew would have known it was a false alarm as it is never played without other procedures being completed first. Embarrassing for the crew who I am sure would have been straight out into the cabin to calm the nerves with reassuring smiles and stiff drinks.
As for what caused it, there are a couple of things to do with the IFE that if when setting up are not completed properly it can trip the emergency announcements. Unfortunately the ditching announcement is the the one which you never want to hear.

[David]

LuganoPirate,

The cabin crew have control over the “pre recorded announcement“ or PRA, unless its automatically triggered by a cabin pressure change.

I suspect, as it’s only over the North Sea and less than 1 hour from LHR, the wrong selection was made on the cabin crew video console… ie ..not a pilot error…

[DisgustedofSwieqi]

“Maybe, just on this occasion, we should lift this site’s frequent blanket exoneration of all things BA and acknowledge an unfortunate experience for these passengers?”

Totally agree Tom and just to add to recognise how unprofessional it is to play such a recording unless it is justified.

[InterestedObserver]

Not ignored, TomBaum, just missed by you.

http://www.businesstraveller.com/discussion/topic/British-Scareways

[Author]

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