An investigation has been launched after two passenger planes collided while one of the aircraft was being towed at Heathrow Airport.
Footage posted on social media shows a Virgin Atlantic
plane’s wing touching a British Airways aircraft, surrounded by emergency
services.
The Virgin Boeing 787-9 plane had completed a flight and was
being towed to a different part of the airfield with no passengers on board at
the time of the incident, it is understood.
Virgin said it has launched an investigation into the
collision.
The aircraft has been taken out of service and engineering
teams are performing maintenance checks on it, the airline added.
The British Airways (BA) aircraft was stationary at the time
of the incident and is being assessed by engineering teams, the company said.
BA said it has provided an alternative aircraft to “limit
the impact on our customers”.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: “We are aware that the
wingtip of one of our empty aircraft came into contact with another aircraft
whilst being towed from the stand at London Heathrow Terminal 3.
“The safety of our customers and crew is always our top
priority.
“We can confirm no customers were on board the Virgin
Atlantic aircraft during this time.
“We’ve commenced a full and thorough investigation and our
engineering teams are performing maintenance checks on the aircraft, which for
now has been taken out of service.”
It is understood Virgin Atlantic’s flying programme has not
been disrupted by the incident.
The tow movement was provided by a ground handling company
under contract by Virgin Atlantic.
A spokesperson for British Airways said: “One of our
aircraft, whilst stationary at Heathrow earlier today, was involved in a
collision with another airline’s jet, which was being towed from a stand at the
time.
“Our aircraft is being assessed by our engineering teams and
we have provided an alternative aircraft to limit the impact on our customers.”
A Heathrow spokesperson said: “We are working alongside
emergency services and our airline partners in response to an incident
involving two aircraft on the ground earlier today.
“At present, no passenger injuries have been reported and we
do not anticipate there to be any ongoing impact to airport operations.”