Synopsis

On January 17, 2008, British Airways Flight 38 was in its final approach when the automated engine controls commanded an increase in power. The engines, however, failed to respond to the pilot’s adjustments and remained at idle. The captain extended the flaps an additional increment, attempting to gain a few extra feet of altitude; the aircraft crash-landed just before reaching the runway, fortunately without loss of life. The problem stemmed from ice crystals that had blocked the fuel-oil heat