Planes collide on runway at Heathrow

A British Airways 747 and a Sri Lankan Airlines Airbus A340 were involved in a collision whilst taxiing at Heathrow.

There were no injuries and BA confirmed there was indeed a collision and that investigations were underway.

A BAA spokesman said "Heathrow airport can confirm that two aircraft were involved in an incident earlier this evening on the ground. There are no reported injuries."

A spokeswoman for Sri Lankan Airlines said "It is reported that the wing tips of the two aircraft brushed against each other while taxiing. No injuries were reported. All passengers have been transferred to city hotels until alternate travel arrangements are made during the course of the day."

A passenger onboard the Sri Lankan has said that they hit the BA jet from behind: "We turned our wing, almost hit what looked like the tail end of the British Airways flight, and we ended up chopping off a bit of wing. It cut through it like butter," said Danish journalist Annasofie Flamand.

"It's pretty incredible to see something like that in a place like Heathrow airport. Thank God it was on the ground and not in the air."

The aircraft was then being inspected to assess the extent of the damage.

Meanwhile, passengers were given the option of a refund or to stay the night in a hotel and leave on the next available flight.