A passenger on a British Airways flight that issued a mayday call while approaching Heathrow Airport has spoken out about the fear and chaos in the cabin earlier this month. Edward Killiwick described a "violent manoeuvre" and a lack of information from the crew, which led to widespread panic among passengers. The incident is being investigated by both the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) and France's BEA, with reports suggesting that a data system failure and stall warnings may have contributed to the emergency. The plane, an Airbus A320, was in a holding pattern for around 15 minutes before landing safely, but not without causing significant concern among its passengers.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Why this leaning score
The use of words like 'violent manoeuvre' and 'imminent danger' to describe the pilot's actions suggest a critical tone towards the crew, but this is balanced by quotes from the passenger that convey fear and uncertainty, indicating some level of impartiality.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score +0.35 for article 297 · logged 2026-08-04
- Published
A passenger on a British Airways flight that issued a distress call on approach to Heathrow Airport earlier this month has described the rising fear in the cabin and a lack of information from the crew.
asserted
that → publish → crew
Edward Killiwick had been travelling back from a friend's birthday party with his partner Julie, on the flight from Dusseldorf in Germany on 6 July.
asserted
Killiwick → travel → July
He said passengers were told that the landing had been aborted, and then he felt a "very violent manoeuvre" and "did think we could crash".
uncertain
we → say → manoeuvre
He and his partner had to comfort a woman who "completely lost it and started screaming, 'I don't want to die'".
asserted
I → have → it
The flight landed safely, but the incident is being investigated with assistance from BA.
asserted
incident → land → BA
The UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said it was "investigating a serious incident", and France's accident investigation authority, the BEA, said on Wednesday that the plane, an Airbus A320, had issued a distress call.
asserted
plane → say → call
Edward said: "The violent manoeuvre almost felt like it was avoiding another aircraft.
asserted
it → say → aircraft
You could feel the engines going at full power.
uncertain
engines → feel → power
"It was a bit odd going around in a holding pattern with no information.
asserted
It → go → information
I thought if they're not talking, then they're not in a good place."
asserted
they → think → place
He said they were in a holding pattern for about 15 minutes.
asserted
they → say → minutes
The BEA said that as the plane approached Heathrow, there was a data system failure which triggered a stall warning.
asserted
which → say → warning
The crew then flew the aircraft in a different mode called "alternate law", which removes some automated flight protection systems.
asserted
which → fly → systems
Another stall warning then occurred at 3,000 feet — which experts say was likely to have been just miles away from the airport.
asserted
experts → occur → airport
The urgency call the crew had already made was upgraded to mayday, indicating imminent danger.
A British Airways spokesperson said the airline was assisting the AAIB with its investigation and was not legally able to comment further at this stage.
asserted
airline → make → stage
Edward said: "I was definitely scared.
asserted
I → say → ?
After the violent manoeuvre I thought, there is definitely something very badly wrong here.
asserted
I → think → manoeuvre
I did think we could crash.
"
uncertain
we → think → ?
I did think it was a possibility, and I think everyone else did."
He added: "I think everyone was getting very scared, including one lady who completely lost it and started screaming 'I don't want to die.'
asserted
I → think → it
"Then we did land, but still no communication from the flight deck, which I suppose isn't surprising as I suppose they had quite a lot to do.
asserted
they → land → lot
"
Several fire trucks and a police car were on the tarmac when the plane landed, Edward said.
asserted
Edward → land → tarmac
"There was a few people that did clap, but not that many because I think everyone was just relieved to be on the ground," he said.
asserted
he → be → ground
"Julie, my partner, did shed a few tears when we landed."
asserted
we → shed → tears
- Published
A passenger on a British Airways flight that issued a distress call on approach to Heathrow Airport earlier this month has described the rising fear in the cabin and a lack of information from the crew.
asserted
that → publish → crew
Edward Killiwick had been travelling back from a friend's birthday party with his partner Julie, on the flight from Dusseldorf in Germany on 6 July.
asserted
Killiwick → travel → July
He said passengers were told that the landing had been aborted, and then he felt a "very violent manoeuvre" and "did think we could crash".
uncertain
we → say → manoeuvre
He and his partner had to comfort a woman who "completely lost it and started screaming, 'I don't want to die'".
asserted
I → have → it
The flight landed safely, but the incident is being investigated with assistance from BA.
asserted
incident → land → BA
The UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said it was "investigating a serious incident", and France's accident investigation authority, the BEA, said on Wednesday that the plane, an Airbus A320, had issued a distress call.
asserted
plane → say → call
Edward said: "The violent manoeuvre almost felt like it was avoiding another aircraft.
asserted
it → say → aircraft
You could feel the engines going at full power.
uncertain
engines → feel → power
"It was a bit odd going around in a holding pattern with no information.
asserted
It → go → information
I thought if they're not talking, then they're not in a good place."
asserted
they → think → place
He said they were in a holding pattern for about 15 minutes.
asserted
they → say → minutes
The BEA said that as the plane approached Heathrow, there was a data system failure which triggered a stall warning.
asserted
which → say → warning
The crew then flew the aircraft in a different mode called "alternate law", which removes some automated flight protection systems.
asserted
which → fly → systems
Another stall warning then occurred at 3,000 feet — which experts say was likely to have been just miles away from the airport.
asserted
experts → occur → airport
The urgency call the crew had already made was upgraded to mayday, indicating imminent danger.
A British Airways spokesperson said the airline was assisting the AAIB with its investigation and was not legally able to comment further at this stage.
asserted
airline → make → stage
Edward said: "I was definitely scared.
asserted
I → say → ?
After the violent manoeuvre I thought, there is definitely something very badly wrong here.
asserted
I → think → manoeuvre
…and 6 more, not listed.
