Hello FTers,

I am looking for assistance in finding any newspaper articles concerning a flight that had an engine fire on 19 August 1977 departing from Gatwick. If there is a more appropriate forum for the request, would appreciate this post being moved.

Details: On 19 August 1977, I was scheduled to depart Gatwick on World Airways; the routing was Gatwick-Seattle-Oakland. There was an air traffic controller slowdown that day, and our flight departed several hours late, just before noon. During the climb within a few minutes of takeoff, one of the port engines caught fire. I recall seeing the flames from my aisle seat. The pilot announced that due to the ATC slowdown/walkout we could not return to Gatwick. We flew over the North Sea and dumped the fuel in the port wing. The pilot kept us updated and everyone was (externally) calm. The pilot told us that there was limited choice of airports where we could land and none in the UK; we eventually landed in Frankfurt (Germany). The plane stayed on the apron and we were told that we would not be officially entering Germany (visas were needed for passengers), and that several buses would be taking us under guard to two different hotels where we would be provided rooms for the night and all meals but would not be allowed to leave the hotels. I was in the group that stayed at the Ramada Frankfurt Caravelle Hotel on Oeserstrasse 180; I still have the hotel envelope and some pictures I took from my balcony. The hotel created a buffet area and we all ate (and drank) well on World Airways's tab. We left the next morning (20 August) on a different World Airways aircraft and continued to Seattle and then Oakland. I learned from my parents that World Airways had paid for hotel rooms near SEA and OAK for any family members who had come to meet us on the original flight.


I have googled for details over the past few years and also searched in a few free newspaper archives, without success. I did find references to the ATC strike that officially started on 23 August, with the 19th being the start of the slowdown. I am hoping someone reading this might have access to UK newspaper archives or can suggest how to proceed.

Thanks in advance!