BOAC Flight 712

BOAC Flight 712 (callsign Speedbird 712) for April 9, 1968 was a Boeing 707-465 from London Heathrow bound for Sydney via Zürich Kloten and Singapore, which suffered an engine failure at takeoff that quickly led to a major fire that killed five of the 127 on board. The actions taken by those involved resulted in the award of a George Cross, a British Empire Medal and an MBE. On a clear spring afternoon, flight 712 had 127 people aboard, including... more

BOAC Flight 712 (callsign Speedbird 712) for April 9, 1968 was a Boeing 707-465 from London Heathrow bound for Sydney via Zürich Kloten and Singapore, which suffered an engine failure at takeoff that quickly led to a major fire that killed five of the 127 on board. The actions taken by those involved resulted in the award of a George Cross, a British Empire Medal and an MBE. On a clear spring afternoon, flight 712 had 127 people aboard, including a crew augmented by an acting flight officer and a check captain for routine performance review of the pilot in command, Captain Taylor. As well as the passengers, the aircraft was carrying baggage, mail and a radioactive isotope from the Isotope Production Unit at Harwell destined for the University Hospital in Jerusalem. Seconds after take off from Heathrow's runway 28L (27L now) there was an unexpected bang and the aircraft started vibrating. The throttle controlling number two engine was shutting down. While Captain Taylor ordered an... less