BA engineer dies after Heathrow runway crash
A BRITISH Airways engineer died yesterday after two airport vehicles crashed near a runway at Heathrow.
The victim, a man in his 40s, suffered a heart attack after the smash close to Terminal 5 just after 6am.
Paramedics dashed to the sprawling London airport and tried to resuscitate the man on the spot.
He was rushed to a hospital in west London but doctors could not save him. A second man suffered a suspected broken shoulder in the crash.
Hundreds of passengers who had boarded planes were forced to return to the terminal building as emergency services worked at the scene.
As many as 30 flights were delayed, some for several hours, in the aftermath of the collision between a yellow Heathrow truck and a white BA van.
It happened as the runways were being opened up after the overnight close-down, which gives staff time to carry out work unhindered by aircraft landing or taking off.
Passengers told how they were left stranded on board planes for more than an hour as an area around several gates was shut.
One passenger, on a flight bound for Zurich, said: “We boarded and waited and then the captain gave a series of apologies and delay announcements. The police required an area to be closed off and the gate was surrounded by service vehicles. There were blue lights everywhere.”
The dead engineer had not been named last night but a British Airways spokeswoman said: “We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident and are offering our full care and support to his family and colleagues.”
One of the victim’s workmates, Kevin Fitzgibbon, tweeted: “Sad day at work today. Lost one of our engineering colleagues this morning.
“My thoughts are with his family and friends at this terrible time.”
The Health and Safety Executive was informed and Metropolitan Police collision investigators went to the scene. No arrests were made.