8 March 2005
A British Airways Boeing 747 continued on an 11-hour flight from Los Angeles to London after one of its four engines lost power on take-off.
The crew later made an emergency landing in Manchester due to low fuel because the 747 encountered headwinds that were stronger than expected according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The incident occurred three days after the European Union required airlines based in Europe to provide compensation of up to €600 to passengers whose long-distance flights are delayed by more than four hours.
The failed engine was replaced and the aircraft then flew to Melbourne, Australia, before continuing to Singapore. The Boeing left Singapore on February 25th and three hours into the 14-hour flight, an oil pressure indicator showed there was a problem with one of the engines, which the captain shut down as a precaution.
A BA spokesman confirmed it was the replaced No. 2 engine that had to be shut down but in totally different circumstances.
Flight 18 carrying 356 passengers continued on 3 engines and landed at Heathrow the next day, arriving only 15 minutes behind schedule.
BA is now conducting an internal investigation into both incidents and the Civil Aviation Authority has been informed.
