How a tragedy at Manchester airport saved hundreds of passengers in the Tokyo plane crash
“As the aircraft stopped, the aft cabin was suddenly filled with thick black smoke which induced panic amongst passengers in that area, with a consequent rapid forward movement down the aisle.
“Many passengers stumbled and collapsed in the aisle, forcing others to go over the seat-backs towards the centre cabin area, which was clear up until the time the right overwing exit was opened.
“A passenger from the front row of seats looked back as he waited to exit the aircraft, and was aware of a mass of people tangled together and struggling in the centre section, apparently incapable of moving forward. He stated ‘people were howling and screaming’.”
That horrifying account of unfolding tragedy is taken from the official report into the last fatal accident involving British Airways.
On 22 August 1985, a Boeing 737 belonging to ’s charter subsidiary, British Airtours, accelerated along the runway at , destination Corfu. An engine failure started a
