Passengers flying in a British Airways’ aeroplane from Miami to London thought they were going to die last Friday, when a recorded voice announced: “This is an emergency, we will shortly be making an emergency landing on water.”
The flight was proceeding normally, but all the passengers believed something was wrong and they were going to crash. Talking to the Daily Telegraph in the UK, one of the passenger described the pandemonium that ensued:
We looked at each other and figured we were both about to die. Families with children were distraught and people were in tears. It was very distressing. About 30 seconds later, one of the cabin crew told us to ignore the announcement. … Imagining yourself plunging towards a cold, watery grave in the middle of the Atlantic is a pretty horrific thought, but they seemed very blasé about it.
British Airways won’t disclose the nature of the error, but this is the second time this has happened. On August 2010 a BA pilot hit the wrong button, which triggered the same message and the same response in all the passengers en route to Hong Kong from London.
The airline has apologised to customers via a press release. Maybe they should need to put some tape over the bloody crash alert button in each of their aeroplanes. [Daily Telegraph via CNN, The Sun via Twitter -- Thanks Scott Kidder!]
Luke
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 4:40 PMNow woukdnt that be awkward if you grab the hot chick next to you and made out with her. Then heard to correction… Oh sh+ t!
Greg
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 5:26 PMpfft, I would have done that regardless of the emergency …..
Kent
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 5:38 PMITT: Nerds who think they’d have a chance.
darthdvd
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 4:42 PMOr have the computer confirm that you wish to make that crash alert announcement.
“are you sure you want to do a water landing?”
Matt L
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 4:59 PMAnd the options are: “No” and “Click here for more options”
HiddenGirl
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 5:12 PMThey should employ Clippy for this….
“It looks like you are landing on water. Would you like help?”….
DAN!
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 4:12 PMhahahaha!
Luke
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 5:08 PMDamn, it’s “Out of Order”! :D
Random
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 5:12 PMI am waiting for an update that one the passengers has sued the airliner. Stress, almost had a Heart Attack and what not… rap, rap, rap
Fizz
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 6:21 PMIm sorry Dear, I lied to you aobouth this but I realy did ……..
Dave
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 12:20 PMI was on a BA long haul flight when the lights came on in the middle of the night and an announcement came over the PA to put on an oxygen mask – the masks hadn’t dropped so i figured it was an error, but still unsettling. Then then just turned the lights off and that was it – no announcement to say sorry folks, the plane is fine, hit the wrong button!