Flight investigators assume that the sudden grounding of three BA flights could have been linked to insect infestation.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced an investigation into the reversal of three flights from Heathrow Airport in west London for problems with their navigation systems.
Researchers believe the aircraft’s pitot tubes, which help measure speed and air pressure, may have been blocked by “some form of insect infestation,” SurreyLive reports.
Between June 9th and 11th of this year, three BA departures from the UK’s busiest airport were quickly suspended following technical problems.
At that time, the CAA announced that there were safety concerns with the three aircraft.
The three grounded jets between them carried hundreds of passengers who were potentially in serious danger
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BA told SurreyLive, “Safety is always our top priority and we, like other operators, conduct additional audits based on the CAA’s recommendations.
“With the AAIB investigation ongoing, it would not be appropriate to make any further comments.”
The swarm theory could easily be true, with fatal crashes being attributed to insect infestation at the wrong time.
In 1996, 189 people died aboard Birgenair Flight 301 after wasps built a nest in the crucial tube, causing the pilot to misread the air pressure.
When wasps built a net into the speedometer of a passenger plane in 1996, it crashed, killing all 189 on board
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The Boeing 757 crashed shortly after takeoff on its way from the Dominican Republic to Frankfurt.
Fortunately, the air traffic controllers put the three BA jets on the ground before they were exposed to such a risk.
But the results of the investigation so far suggest that there is a risk of serious accidents.
An AAIB spokesman said, “We are investigating a number of incidents reported to us involving insects blocking pitot probes on airplanes.
BA declined to comment on the investigation
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“Several incidents are being investigated as part of an investigation.”
A CAA spokesman added: “Following three events in June that blocked aircraft pitot tubes, the CAA has reminded UK airlines and maintenance organizations of the security measures required to get aircraft back into service that are in storage or were used to a limited extent.
“All three incidents are under ongoing investigation by the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch.
The killer insects have more than just a prickly stinger that they can use to cause damage
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“Early evidence suggests that the tubes may be blocked by insects.
“The AAIB investigation will aim to definitively confirm the cause of the incidents.
“His reports will be published publicly on his website. We have no further details on the incidents at this time.”
Heathrow Airport has been asked to comment.
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