On June 24, 1982, British Airways Flight 009, also known as the "Kangaroo Route" flight, was scheduled to depart London Heathrow Airport and fly to Sydney, Australia. However, the flight ended up making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
The Boeing 747-236B aircraft, registration G-BDXH, was flying at an altitude of 37,000 feet when it flew into a volcanic ash cloud generated by the eruption of Mount Galunggung in Indonesia. The ash cloud damaged the four engines of the plane, causing two of them to fail completely. The pilots were able to restart the engines and made an emergency landing in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The passengers and crew aboard the flight were unaware of the danger they were in, as there were no warning systems in place at the time to detect volcanic ash clouds. The ash cloud had clogged the engines, causing them to stall and leaving the plane without power. The pilots, Captain Eric Moody and First Officer Roger Greaves, were forced to rely on their training and experience to safely land the plane.
The incident was a significant event in aviation history, as it was one of the first to highlight the dangers of flying through volcanic ash clouds. It was also one of the first incidents to be investigated by the newly formed Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) of the United Kingdom. The AAIB found that the ash cloud had caused a total loss of thrust in all four engines, and that the pilots had made the correct decision to shut down the engines and make an emergency descent.
British Airways Flight 009 was a reminder of the importance of safety in aviation and the need for early warning systems to detect volcanic ash clouds. It also served as a wake-up call for the aviation industry, leading to the development of new technology and procedures for dealing with volcanic ash clouds.
The incident was a testament to the skill and bravery of the pilots and the crew, who were able to safely land the plane and evacuate the passengers, with all 247 passengers and 15 crew members surviving.
In conclusion, British Airways Flight 009 incident of 1982 was a turning point in aviation history, as it highlighted the dangers of flying through volcanic ash clouds and the importance of safety in aviation. It also led to the development of new technology and procedures for dealing with such incidents. The incident was a testament to the skill and bravery of the pilots and the crew who were able to safely land the plane and evacuate the passengers.