Nightmareliner Fire Closes LHR

[Garry Russell]

Incident, not sure why the runways have to close??

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23294760

[Garry Russell]

Shortage of available over is the reason for the closure.

[TSR2]

Another one (Thomson) has just diverted back to Manchester, not sure why yet.

[ianhind]

Closed because not enough emergency services to cover arrivals/departures.

Not fun times for the ATC - diversions to Lution, Gatwick and Stansted.

First arrival to reopened LHR was Lufthansa A320 that had declared PAN because of low fuel and was being fast-tracked to Luton but then at last minute into LHR.

Thomson B787 mentioned by Ben was probably G-TUIC flying TOM126 out of MAN to Orlando. My virtual radar box picked it up at 1214. If you follow the flight on FR24 (starting about 1114 since GMT) it vanishes an hour later which is typical of what FR24 does for problems.

So if BBC comment was about this, it happened much earlier in the day.

The other Thomson B787: G-TUIA is currently approaching Cancun, G-TUIB went to Menorca

Edit: Correct flight :http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/eur ... story.html Timelines are screwed since Thomson just releasing this even though it happened hours earlier

[Tomliner]

I would think that if this is a battery problem again Boeing will be in deep trouble.Anyone know where the battery compartment is?.The BBC tv footage showed evidence of fire damage on the upper rear fuselage ahead of the vertical fin. EricT

[TSR2]

From memory, the battery is in that area, but mounted lower (i.e. not in the roof) but I could be wrong.

[ianhind]

Agree with comment - have a read of the AvHerald article http://avherald.com/h?article=45c377c5&opt=0

A bit premature to lump it with the battery problems but seems like batteries are at the front and APU is at the back (but also some batteries?)

[Garry Russell]

Heat will travel upwards and in the confined space will burn through the roof even in a floor fire.

This is not good...no matter how minor of major the events leading to it, you just can't have aeroplanes flying that have a habit of catching fire.

Awkward as it may be after delays and peak season with the fleets finally building, I hope that they ground them.

[Kevin Farnell]

Some serious heat damge to the rear fuselage just forward of the tail.



Just below this area is the flight attendant rest area.
The battery is on the other side, just at the rear of the wingbox. It is possible for the fire to rise and travel that distance from the battery, but in this case it looks not to be the case.
I have no idea if the composite skin/structure could be repaired. Some suggestions on PPRUNE that this may be the first 787 hull loss.

Regards

Kevin

[SkippyBing]

As you say, doesn't look to be in the same area as the battery fires they've been having.

Certainly I hope it isn't as the knock on effects won't just hit Boeing but also Airbus who're planning on using batteries with the same chemistry in the A350.