British Airways plane catches fire in Las Vegas

M1k3H · 9 Sep 2015 at 23:29

FoxEye said:
But seriously, fires on aircraft are not always so considerate as to leave vital systems alone? Or to politely put themselves out?

Can't comment on aircraft engines, but for interiors there are flammability requirements and essentially yes, stuff are not allowed to burn or emmit toxic substantances and thick smoke.

Not my area of expertise but there are various tests that consider all possible scenarios including how hot something can get and whether it will affect something else, although that specific item might be okay.

Tefal · 10 Sep 2015 at 01:59

Basher said:
They detach to act as rafts in water, though.

And the seat acts as a flotation device but it's not primer ally designed for a water landing

The slides are designed mainly for getting off on a in this kind of situation as it's the most common

Tefal · 10 Sep 2015 at 02:02

Spook187 said:
Are you mad, do you know how much electrical wiring is on a plane

Not as much as you'd think. I'm sat here looking at a the wiring going in now.

There's a fair bit especially around the engine pylon but not vast amounts.

JBod · 10 Sep 2015 at 05:09

Diddums said:
Christ, I'm flying to Vegas on BA in December!

But what about me? I was on a BA flight once!

leaskovski · 10 Sep 2015 at 07:30

As soon as I saw the pictures, I started thinking about why the plane didnt explode in a Die Hard frenzy? Given the tanks were in close proximity, I am assuming they didnt ignite?

Jim99 · 10 Sep 2015 at 09:35

leaskovski said:
As soon as I saw the pictures, I started thinking about why the plane didnt explode in a Die Hard frenzy? Given the tanks were in close proximity, I am assuming they didnt ignite?

Total speculation here, but I'm guessing that if the tanks were full, then the oxygen ratio would have been far too low for them to ignite.

Orionaut · 10 Sep 2015 at 09:38

MadMouse101 said:
Why would you want to get your bags ? Just get off the plane.

Because it is just what people do.

In a complexly unrelated story, I have been reading about ancient Thera. It is clear from the archaeological evidence that even when the people were evacuating their city never to return. They still couldn't resist the temptation to "Tidy Up" (Righting fallen furniture, jars and close the shutters and doors etc) before leaving.

:/

John40 · 10 Sep 2015 at 09:39

The pilot who was 63 and had one more flight to do has decided to stop flying now.
If it was me I would have wanted to go out on a high rather than a low and would have done one more flight.

Greebo · 10 Sep 2015 at 09:43

John40 said:
The pilot who was 63 and had one more flight to do has decided to stop flying now.
If it was me I would have wanted to go out on a high rather than a low and would have done one more flight.

To be fair I would call that a high. His plane caught fire and everybody got off alive.

John40 · 10 Sep 2015 at 09:50

Greebo said:
To be fair I would call that a high. His plane caught fire and everybody got off alive.

If you look at it that way I'm sure it is.

jaybee · 10 Sep 2015 at 11:43

The pilot is being hailed a hero in some papers and online articles/reports. I find this strange.

Kemik · 10 Sep 2015 at 12:12

jaybee said:
The pilot is being hailed a hero in some papers and online articles/reports. I find this strange.

Why?

I suppose it depends on your definition of hero. Was he just doing his job, albeit under extreme pressure and is a very good pilot?

Its easier to define with other careers, e.g. a solider where a hero could be described as the act of jumping on a grenade to save your colleagues... or are you a hero for signing up for a role that will likely be on the front line?

ubersonic · 10 Sep 2015 at 12:57

leaskovski said:
As soon as I saw the pictures, I started thinking about why the plane didnt explode in a Die Hard frenzy? Given the tanks were in close proximity, I am assuming they didnt ignite?

Luckily the wind blew the flames towards the fuselage instead of the wing, and the fire teams arrived and foamed everything before it could blow.

Moothead2 · 10 Sep 2015 at 13:05

jaybee said:
The pilot is being hailed a hero in some papers and online articles/reports. I find this strange.

Same. He stopped the plane well below V1 speeds, stayed calm and did what he was supposed to do. Did he do very well in a dangerous and stressful situation? Yeah, and he should probably be awarded for it. Is he a hero? Not really.

koolpc · 10 Sep 2015 at 13:08

He acted professionally as he is trained to do but, nobody knows how one would react in that type of situation. If people are calling him a hero then good for him i say!

Basher · 10 Sep 2015 at 13:39

Moothead2 said:
Same. He stopped the plane well below V1 speeds, stayed calm and did what he was supposed to do. Did he do very well in a dangerous and stressful situation? Yeah, and he should probably be awarded for it. Is he a hero? Not really.

Hero sounds better in headlines, though

nutcase · 10 Sep 2015 at 13:49

On the assumption it was not pilot error (hey, who knows??!) - then I'd say if that was his last flight then that was a high.

Amp34 · 10 Sep 2015 at 13:59

ubersonic said:
Luckily the wind blew the flames towards the fuselage instead of the wing, and the fire teams arrived and foamed everything before it could blow.

Sounds like he did something wrong there then if he did what you said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-33304675

The subsequent investigation by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch led to a host of changes.

The probe found that the position of the aircraft when it came to a halt inadvertently made things worse.

A prevailing wind fanned the flames on to the fuselage and people were left with left little time to escape before thick smoke seeped inside.

In the event of a fire, procedures to be developed to enable the crew to position an aircraft with the fire downwind of the fuselage.

You want the wind to blow the flame and smoke away from the fuselage to reduce the risk of smoke getting into the plane.

(Also an interesting story on what could have happened.

)

lafemmefatale · 10 Sep 2015 at 14:08

I was a small child when the Manchester Airtours accident happened, but it was one of those events that left a marked impression upon me that has prevailed into adulthood, hence the precautions I always take whenever I fly, no matter if it's a 40-minute domestic flight or a long-haul to the US.

Jeps · 10 Sep 2015 at 14:59

lafemmefatale said:
I was a small child when the Manchester Airtours accident happened, but it was one of those events that left a marked impression upon me that has prevailed into adulthood, hence the precautions I always take whenever I fly, no matter if it's a 40-minute domestic flight or a long-haul to the US.

What precautions do you take when you fly out of curiosity? I mean there isn't a lot you can do if something does go catastrophically wrong when the plain is in flight.

I suppose you could make sure your life insurance policy is up to date before you go...