Plane engine doors 'accident waiting to happen'

An interim report on the British Airways plane forced to make an emergency landing at Heathrow last week says detached cowl doors over the engines ruptured a fuel pipe.

The jet had to turn back shortly after take-off, as smoke streamed from its right engine and the engine was shut down. The aircraft landed safely after turning back to the airport.

The Air Accident Investigation Board said the cowl doors were unlatched during maintenance and this wasn't noticed prior to take-off.

David Learmount, a former pilot and Operations and Safety Editor of Flight Global online magazine, said this was an accident waiting to happen.