Runway collisions "a rare occurrence"

Collisions between planes on airport runways generally do not occur frequently, an expert has said.

Speaking to Channel 4's News at Noon programme, David Reynolds of the British Air Line Pilots' Association said that collisions similar to that between British Airways and SriLankan Airlines aircraft at Heathrow Airport earlier this week are "quite a rare occurrence".

He added that measures are in place at the hub to ensure such incidents are kept to a minimum, such as air traffic control guidance and an aircraft control radar system.

"There is an aircraft control radar system here at Heathrow - a ground movement radar, which will give the aircraft controllers a good overview of where aircraft are on the airfield," Mr Reynolds explained.

The collision at Heathrow took place at 22:20 BST on Monday. No injuries were reported and a British Airways spokesman said the incident was "minor".

Passengers on the affected services were offered hotel accommodation or a place on the next available flight to their destinations after the event.

Posted by Kate, 17 October 2007 11:15

News tags

• Srilankan Airlines
• British Airways