By: Yasmin Smith
Today at 2:30pm, U.S Airways commercial flight US132 performed an emergency landing in the London River Thames near Rainham Marshes.
Earlier today the US132 flight lost radar contact just as it had taken off for its journey from London City Airport to Amsterdam Schipol Airport. The pilot had reported an engine failure but had no power to return to London City Airport and thus planned an emergency landing in the Thames.
It was later discovered through British Transport Police’s investigation that the flight had been disabled after a collision with two drones 1.5 kilometres east of London City Airport. The original report had been of a birdstrike however after an examination of the engines, drone debris was revealed. The British Transport Police then began to work on the recovery of the aircraft for the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.
Kent and Essex emergency service units were quickly on the scene with the Thames River police and RNLI following shortly after. At 3:00pm passengers were moved into life rafts from the wings of the aircraft which was situated 100 metres offshore.
From the scene a passenger, Nadine Johnson, tweeted live stating, “OMG!!! Did not expect to spend my birthday standing on the wing of a plane in the middle of the Thames. The pilot is as total legend for getting us down in one piece.”
Once the passengers were brought ashore, Essex ambulance crews carried out medical checks, with U.S Airways staff reporting that all 42 passengers and 6 crew members were accounted for, and 2 passengers were treated for minor injuries.
According to Purfleet Heritage & Military Centre they were “proud to be able to help Essex police, ambulance and RNLI after #Thamesplane crash. We’re providing passengers with food and drinks after their ordeal, as well as phones and WiFi to contact relatives. Can’t believe everyone got out alive.”
The Essex police later reported on Twitter that after evacuation, one passenger had been taken to Queens Hospital, Romford with a suspected heart attack and that arrangements had also been made to get passengers home or back to London City Airport for their onward journey.
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