Consistent errors – pilot confuses left and right: flat burns

The co-pilot of a British Airways plane withdrew a lever with his left hand when the plane started in June 2024, although he should have used the right hand. This is now demonstrated by a report from the Flight Accident Investigation Authority (AAIB) that investigated the case.

There was “no reason” for confusion
This confusion led to a failed start, a Rembrand, the short -term closure of the Gatwick airport, the transfer of 16 and removal of 23 flights. There is no known cause of the error: the co-pilot was “well equipped and felt good on the day”. He could “give no reason” why he confused his hands, says the report on the “The Telegraph”.

Drum lever instead of a joystick
But why was the confusion so fatal? With the left hand, co-pilots operate the push lever that controls the engines and the joystick with the right. In the beginning the joystick must be picked up so that the nose of the plane rises in the air.

Instead, the co-pilot hit the aircraft exactly where the maximum thrust was needed. Two seconds after his mistake, he then switched off the power supply and was baked. The pilot “calm and systematic” helped the co-pilot to stop the plane. “The rescue and fire brigade of the airport came to the plane and removed a fire created by hot braking on the right main chassis,” says the AAIB report.

Researchers: “Activeout”
The researchers of the AAIB described the incident as an “action error”. He then appears “if an action is not performed as intended, which occurs in the case of routine or highly learned motor processes”.

However, there is good news: none of the nearly 350 passengers in the Boeing 777 were injured.