The Air Accidents Investigations Branch has completed their enquiry into the January 2008 British Airways plane which crashed at Heathrow Airport during landing. The investigation reveals that the crash was an accident caused by icy runways. The Boeing 777 aircraft was flying from China into Heathrow Airport when it crash landed just short of the runway.

The crash took place on January 17th, 2008, and the results of the investigation clears any one individual or groups from fault. The enquiry did reveal, however, that safety tests would have shown the issue, which was that fuel was not making it into the engines properly as the plane landed in London. The AAIB report names the incident as an accident caused by a phenomenon, however, because the internal problem was not realized until much later after the crash.

The plane came to a full stop 300 metres short of the Heathrow runway, but all 152 passengers and crew members on board escaped unharmed. The problem was most likely caused by the aircraft being subjected to temperatures at well below -70C. The lower fuel at the time of landing was essentially entering the engines frozen.

The pilot was first aware of an issue just 43 seconds before the plane hit the ground, when he made attempts to use his thruster but got not response. The AAIB, in their report, have praised the pilot for his quick wit which they attributing to saving everyone on board the plane and some of the crew on the ground as well.