Captain Peter Burkill commanded British Airways flight 38 from Beijing which crashed at London Heathrow airport about 3 years ago.  By all informed accounts, his quick action (and that of others on the flight deck) are credited with landing that aircraft with no power and no fatalities.  However, in the immediately following months, Burkill came under pressure at British Airways and though he kept quiet as he was supposed to, he ultimately resigned and searched for another position as captain at another airline.

Unfortunately, because of his high profile association with the crash and, frankly, some rather irresponsible mud throwing in the media (particularly in the UK), he was unable to find another pilot position.  Now there are credible reports that he is being hired back by British Airways.  British Airways, to date, has only said that Burkill is an admired colleague and that he would be welcome back at the airline. 

I always thought it shameful just how much of his dirty laundry and that of other flight crew members was aired in the media over there.  It was prying and irrelevant to his skillful work as a captain that day.

Filed under: Airline News by ajax