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| Title: | Smoke emergency, British Airways Boeing 747-400 (G-CIVT), August 24, 2002 |
| Micro summary: | Acrid smell in the cabin inspires the crew to successfully perform an emergency descent and landing. |
| Event Time: | 2002-08-24 at 1336 UTC |
| File Name: | 2002-08-24-2-IE.pdf |
| Publishing Agency: | Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) |
| Publishing Country: | Ireland |
| Report number: | 2003/001 |
| Pages: | 4 |
| Diversion Airport: | Shannon International Airport, Shannon, Ireland |
| Site of event: | 22° West (Shanwick Occeanic Airspace) |
| Departure: | London Heathrow Airport, London, England, United Kingdom |
| Destination: | Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International Airport, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada |
| Airplane Type(s): | Boeing 747-400 |
| Flight Phase: | Cruise |
| Registration(s): | G-CIVT |
| Operator(s): | British Airways |
| Type of flight: | Revenue |
| Occupants: | 345 |
| Fatalities: | 0 |
| Serious Injuries: | 0 |
| Minor/Non-Injured: | 345 |
| Other Injuries: | 0 |
| Diverted to: | Shannon International Airport, Shannon, Ireland |
| Executive Summary: | The aircraft had departed London Heathrow for Toronto at 11:12 hours and was west of 15º West in the Shannon Oceanic area (see Appendix A) when a slightly acrid smell was noticed in and adjacent to Toilet J, situated at the front right of the aircraft and adjacent to the galley area and to door 2R. The Cabin Crew Chief said that it was more of a hot plastic smell rather than an acrid smell. There was no smoke and no flame. One of the cabin crew donned a smoke hood and directed two BCF fire extinguisher contents at the water heater area in the toilet. Electrical power to the IFE (In-Flight Entertainment) equipment was switched off in addition to power to the galley area. Members of the cabin staff inspected other toilets and around the No. 2R door area. Electrical power to the overhead lights and the trash compactor was switched off in an effort to try and find the source of the smell. The Captain was fully informed of this trouble-shooting as it was taking place. As the smell had not disappeared throughout the trouble-shooting the Captain decided to divert to Shannon and the passengers were informed. The aircraft was then at 22º West and the time was 13:40 hours The crew contacted Shanwick and informed them that the aircraft was diverting to Shannon, estimating 54.30N/15W at 14:22 hours. The Cabin Crew prepared the passengers for landing and had to adjust the VIP seats manually as all the 115 Volt 3 phase power to the seats had been switched off. The aircraft landed at 14:46 hours and the passengers left the aircraft, initially without their hand luggage, through Door 1L and the airbridge. |
| Learning Keywords: | Operations - Cabin or Cockpit Smoke |
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