BA Crash Scare Error 'Terrifies' Passengers


12:36pm UK, Friday August 27, 2010

Ed Merrison, Sky News Online

A planeload of British Airways passengers feared for their lives when they were told they were going to crash - only to learn the warning message went out in error.

British Airways planes

Airline has apologised for scare, which it said was caused by computer error

Travellers flying from Heathrow to Hong Kong heard the message: "This is an emergency. We may shortly need to make an emergency landing on water."

Cabin crew on the Boeing 747 had to quickly reassure passengers their worst nightmare was not about to come true, telling them the warning was a mistake and there was no emergency.

Michelle Lord, 32, of Preston, Lancashire, told the Sun newspaper: "People were terrified. We all thought we were going to die."

Another traveller said: "I can't think of anything worse than being told your plane's about to crash."

BA, which said the incident took place within the last seven days, apologised for the scare.

The airline explained that the message was an automatic one triggered by a computer.

A BA spokesman said: "We would like to apologise to passengers on board the flight for causing them undue distress.

"Our cabin crew immediately made an announcement following the message advising customers that it was played in error and that the flight would continue as normal."

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