BBC

Probe launched after BA jet severs engineer's legs 

June 25, 2006

British Airways today launched an investigation after an airport ground engineer reportedly had his legs severed by a jumbo jet’s landing gear.

The man was airlifted to hospital after he fell under the Boeing 747 at Johannesburg airport this morning.

The 283 passengers who were on board the BA55 flight that had arrived from Heathrow were kept on board for about an hour while the scene was cleared.

Reports from South Africa said the man was positioning the wheel chocks on the British Airways jet at around 7am when he became trapped and had his legs severed.

Witnesses said he had passed out and fallen under the landing gear shortly before it happened.

A British Airways spokesman said: “There was an incident at Johannesburg airport this morning, where a man who works for a third party for us was injured and has been taken to hospital.”

The extent of the man’s injuries were not currently clear.

The spokeswoman added: “Our thoughts are very much with him. A full investigation has been launched about the incident.”

No passengers were believed to have seen what happened. The flight left Britain at 7.05pm last night and arrived in South Africa at 6.55am.