Update on flight BA38 crash landing at Heathrow Airport

Reports have said that the reason for the BA flight crash landing short of the runway at Heathrow was due to the failure of both engines.

The AAIB's report said: "the Auto throttle demanded an increase in thrust from the two engines but the engines did not respond."

Neither engines responded when crew tried for more thrust with the throttle levers.

Captain Peter Burkill has praised all staff onboard the jet for playing key parts in averting certain tragedy.

"Flying is about teamwork and we had an outstanding team on board. As captain of the aircraft I am glad to say that every member of my team played their part expertly," Burkill said.

"No one more so than my senior first officer, John Coward, the handling pilot on the final approach. He did the most remarkable job."

Are more pilots falling asleep during flights?

With the cockpit today being entirely automated it's a wonder pilots are needed at all. However it's something else when the pilots are getting so bored that they're fallnig asleep.

Onboard a flight from Baltimore to Denver in 2004 this is what happened! The pilot and co-pilot had drifted off and only woke up when air traffic control were practically shouting at them as the plane was cruising at twice the required speed on approach. They did however manage to land the plane without mishap. Nobody onboard the flight was none the wiser and the only reason this matter has come to light is because the pilot submitted an anoymous report.

This isn't the first time this has happened as discovered from a Dallas news station, another pilot fell asleep during take off.

"When air traffic control said something on the radio we both woke up," recalled the pilot, "and I was like, oh my gosh, we're already up here."

Does something need to be done to keep all cockpit crew awake?

Airlines to make 'aviation english' compulsory

Come March 2008 pilots flying international routes must acquire a mandatory level of proficiency in 'aviation english'. If they fail to do so ther licence could be taken off them.

It's likely to be compulsary that new pilots pass the language test as part of their commercial pilot licence training.

Aviation english involves communication of flight plans and landing and take off positions between pilots and air traffic control.

The move comes to try and fill the gap between communication with the cockpit and the control tower. One of the most primary factors responsible for accidents is misunderstanding of communication.