AVIATION/ PROBE INTO BA 747 DOOR INCIDENT

According to at least 1 media report from Britain, the incident onboard a BRITISH AIRWAYS Boeing 747 yesterday at London Heathrow, was more serious than first thought. As reported yesterday, BA Flight 117 was on International Service from Heathrow to New York JFK, with 296 passengers and crew onboard. The crew halted their climb at 1500 feet, and declared an emergency, reporting an open door indication. The 747 landed back at Heathrow, 9 minutes after their initial departure. According to a media report today, Door 5, at the rear left hand side of the 747, failed to shut properly and was not discovered until the aircraft took off. Passengers and cabin crew reportedly battled to hang on to the handle of the the rear door at 1500 feet above London. According to a passenger onboard: "It was absolutely terrifying. The scene was like something out of a movie. The crew and some passengers leapt out of their seats to secure the door". Multiple yewitnesses on the ground reported seeing the low flying jet overhead and saw it turn around to return to Heathrow. One eyewitness took the photo above of the aircraft as the incident took place. A BA spokeswoman said last night the could not have opened because of the air pressure. She said: "The handle on the door was not secured on the latch and it was reported moving. Some passengers did help members of the cabin crew to help secure the handle. At no stage was the door open". The spokeswoman said the aircraft is out of service undergoing a full inspection. An investigation has been launched by the UK AAIB into the incident.