A British Airways flight has become the subject of an urgent safety investigation after a series of operational blunders nearly resulted in a 'hull loss' incident during an approach to London Heathrow. The captain of the flight has since taken stress leave following the harrowing experience.

The incident, which prompted a mayday declaration, occurred when a significant altitude deviation—reported as a 3,000-foot error—was made by the first officer. Reports indicate the aircraft was seconds away from a potential disaster before the captain intervened to correct the flight path.

Passengers on board described a scene of panic and terror as the gravity of the situation became apparent. One passenger recounted the extreme fear felt throughout the cabin, describing a fellow traveler shouting, 'I don't want to die,' as the plane navigated the high-stakes situation.

Industry experts and aviation news outlets have described the event as a near-miss, emphasizing the critical nature of the captain's intervention in preventing a catastrophe. British Airways has confirmed that an internal review is underway, and the airline is cooperating fully with aviation authorities to determine how the altitude error occurred.

The captain, having faced the intense psychological pressure of the emergency, is currently on a leave of absence. The incident has reignited discussions regarding flight deck coordination and safety protocols during the landing phase of commercial flights.

Source: BBC