Johannesburg – London

On December 22, 2013 at 10:43 PM, Johannesburg – London experienced a crash involving Boeing 747-400, operated by British Airways, with the event recorded near Johannesburg-Oliver Reginald Tambo (Jan Smuts) Gauteng.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was taxiing at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

202 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 202 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 17, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 185, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The British Airways aircraft B747-400, flight number BA034 with registration G-BNLL, was going to embark on a commercial international air transportation long haul flight from FAOR to EGLL. The ATC gave the crew instructions to push back, start and face south, then taxi using taxiway Bravo to the Category 2 holding point for Runway 03L. During the taxi, instead of turning to the left to follow Bravo, the crew continued straight ahead, crossing the intersection of taxiway Bravo and aircraft stand taxilane Mike. After crossing the intersection, still being on Mike, the aircraft collided with a building. An investigation was conducted and several causal factors were determined. Amongst others, it was determined that the crew erred in thinking they were still taxiing on Bravo while in fact they were taxiing on Mike. This mistake, coupled with other contributory factors such as the briefing information, taxi information, ground movement visual aids, confusion and loss of situational awareness led to the collision. All 202 occupants evacuated safely while four people in the building were injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Aircraft reference details include registration G-BNLL, MSN 24054/794, year of manufacture 1990.