British Airways flight cancelled after 'numbskull' driver's van careers into jumbo jet - causing £100k of damage

A British Airways flight to Kuala Lumpur was cancelled after a van rolled into a Boeing 789 Dreamliner, causing an estimated £100,000 in damage. The incident occurred on Monday evening at Heathrow Terminal 5 when the driver of an airport service van reportedly forgot to engage the handbrake during pre-departure checks, allowing the vehicle to roll under the aircraft's wing and fuselage. The van, belonging to aeronautical firm Thales and believed to be used for in-flight entertainment servicing, became lodged under the plane. This necessitated the cancellation of the flight due to safety concerns, leaving up to 300 passengers stranded and their journey delayed by 24 hours. Footage of the event showed onlookers jeering and engineers inspecting the damage. The flight eventually departed the following day at 9:05 PM. The £100,000 cost is thought to encompass passenger compensation, disrupted flight slots, crew arrangements, and essential safety and engineering checks. British Airways con... download the app to read more