bmi diamond club - British Midland 1989 M1 crash, what happened to the pilots?

I was watching one of the ‘seconds from disaster’ programs on National geographic channel the other day, about the Kegworth air disaster.
Does anyone know what happened to the Captain, Kevin Hunt and the co pilot, David McClelland? I belive they survived the accident but did they ever fly again?

They survived.

I'm sure a certain FT-perusing accident inspector can confirm, but I think there were some shady dealings with the position of certain switches in the cockpit that were moved after the crash, but before the inspectors arrived on the scene.

For threads on topics like these can we PLEASE use something in the thread title that signifies we are talking about a long-ago past incident / history.

cheers,
AJ

For threads on topics like these can we PLEASE use something in the thread title that signifies we are talking about a long-ago past incident / history.
cheers, AJ

Sorry AJ, did you think it has happened again? And on the M1?
What are the chances of that....

I would change the title but for some reason titles cannot be changed on FT.

Sorry AJ, did you think it has happened again? And on the M1?
What are the chances of that....Minimal, but still a horrible thought nonetheless!

I would change the title but for some reason titles cannot be changed on FT.Ah yes, only our esteemed omnipotent BD forum mods can do that. :D

I would change the title but for some reason titles cannot be changed on FT.

Ask one of your forum mods to change it. For some odd reason, only mods can do it.

Never forget, your friendly forum mods are here for you... clubman, drop me a PM with your desired edit and it shall be done. As if by magic.

Never forget, your friendly forum mods are here for you...Don't you dare forget that when the time comes to buy drinkies at the next Do! :p ;)

Must admit, when you click on either the Miles & Points or Airline Programs link - it just shows 'British Midland M1 Crash...', and I am probably in the great majority of the public worldwide who would not recall that they had previously crashed on the M1, so presumed possibly had been a crash today.

Sorry guys, I have asked for the title to be changed!
Thought everyone knew about the 1989 crash.

The accident report is here: http://www.aaib.dft.gov.uk/publications/formal_reports/no_4_90_502831.cfm

I don't know what became of the pilots. You may do better to ask on Pprune.

After the aircraft crashed, a BMA engineerentered the flight deck and switched off the main battery switchand the standby power switch. He later returned to the flightdeck and switched off the engine ignition (engine start switches)and the fuel booster pumps. The engine start levers (fuel valves)were found in the cut-off position. No witness was found whocould testify to having moved them.

Sorry - wasn't the pilots. Always seems a bit suspicious this bit.

The accident report is here: http://www.aaib.dft.gov.uk/publications/formal_reports/no_4_90_502831.cfm I don't know what became of the pilots. You may do better to ask on Pprune.

Excuse my ignorance but what is Pprune?
I wonder if Joanna knows more…

The Professional Pilots Rumour Network http://www.pprune.org

You're probably best posting in the SLF forum.

It was big news at the time. Evening flight to Aldergrove (now Belfast International -BFS). Apparently, they misdiagnosed the problem and could have had the use of the No. 2 engine which would have taken them safely into East Midlands and saved 47 lives. Fortunately, such incidents are extremely rare. The aircraft a B737-400 was pretty new at the time.

I saw the BBC documentary of this and seem to recall the pilots took the blame - Captain Hunt was retired and F/O McClelland was fired.

Both were fired. Captain Hunt, whio actually lived in Kegworth with his wife, was left in a wheelchair due to a broken back. FO McClelland returned home to Northern Ireland after several months in hospital and later won nearly £10,000 in an out-of-court settlement from Midland after claiming unfair dismissal.

The AAIB make 31 safety recommendations, including changes to cabin and flightdeck design as well as changes to the communication between cabin crew and flight deck. There was serious talk of switching to rear-facing seats.

The pilots were criticised for reacting prematurely and contrary to their training. However, the AAIB report also raised questions about the design of the flight deck instruments and other contributory factors such as fan blade fatigue.

Both were fired. Captain Hunt, whio actually lived in Kegworth with his wife, was left in a wheelchair due to a broken back. FO McClelland returned home to Northern Ireland after several months in hospital and later won nearly £10,000 in an out-of-court settlement from Midland after claiming unfair dismissal.
The AAIB make 31 safety recommendations, including changes to cabin and flightdeck design as well as changes to the communication between cabin crew and flight deck. There was serious talk of switching to rear-facing seats. The pilots were criticised for reacting prematurely and contrary to their training. However, the AAIB report also raised questions about the design of the flight deck instruments and other contributory factors such as fan blade fatigue.

Thanks ajamieson.
So the pilots were fired, I wondered if the blame was put on them.

I have read articles before about the whole safety issue of forward facing seating and that rear facing seating was much safer.
Apparently the airlines object

I have read articles before about the whole safety issue of forward facing seating and that rear facing seating was much safer.
Apparently the airlines object

Military transports have rear facing seats for safety - seem to remember that BEA tridents also had a mix of forward and rearward facing seats (with flip down tables as opposed to trays I think....long time ago when I was a lad)

IIRC I flew on a Cyprus Airways BAC 1-11 about 15 years ago (on BAH-LCA) that had half rear-facing seats, with a GNER (;)) style table halfway down the cabin for lunch.

I have read articles before about the whole safety issue of forward facing seating and that rear facing seating was much safer.
Apparently the airlines object
The report referenced by small em in post #11 does discuss the pros and cons of rear vs forward seats at some length. Commercial considerations are one factor but not the only one.

The report referenced by small em in post #11 does discuss the pros and cons of rear vs forward seats at some length. Commercial considerations are one factor but not the only one.
Indeed.

Michael Bishop did make clear at the time that he had given consideration to rear-facing seats but that, in general, passengers did not want them. Can't imagine any airline wanting to be the first to insist all its passengers flew facing backwards in order to minimise injuries in the event of a crash. The CAA didn't bite, so why should the airlines?