I N T H E CO C K P I T having faith in the tech log was part of that. Whats happening at Boeing is a concerning story, but that day, in 1990, was very much a case of the engineer falling through all the holes in the Swiss cheese. What do you remember of the incident? I remember a big bang and the windscreen going. I saw it disappearing into the nether. Then I vaguely remember going up, then I dont remember much after that. I do remember lying on the side of the aeroplane. I could see the T-tail of the 1-11 and the HF aerial going into the pod on the tail, and I could see the No1 engine going round and round. I do remember seeing little houses going by, which must have been when we were on the approach and there was more oxygen, then big red and white things fire engines and ambulances. Then I woke up in hospital, in a fully conscious state, thinking Id crashed the car. Ive read that you returned to flying about five months after the incident. What were your thoughts on going back to work so soon? Was it harder than you thought it would be? No, it was almost the opposite. I had to do some recency training, then a route check and that was it. I wasnt quite relaxed, but I felt like I was ready to go back. Judging my medical fitness was a chap called Roy Mclaren, who was a BA doctor. The main trouble was the damage to my shoulders. I couldnt use my arms for weeks and weeks. That was what they were worried about, getting dexterity back. All The main trouble was the damage to my shoulders. I couldnt use my arms for weeks and weeks Roy made me do was take my jacket off and put it back on again. He said that you can tell everything about a persons arms by watching them put a jacket on and take it off. Once I could do that, he signed me as fit. The hospital and BA did try to give me some counselling. When I was there, they kept telling me how hard I was going to find it and how difficult it was going to be and I thought hang on a minute, Im not finding this difficult at all at the moment. So I very politely said that, if I needed their services again, Id be in touch. Thats good to hear! I imagine the incident affected everyone involved in a variety of ways. Yes, it did. Thankfully, my recovery was mostly physical. The most upsetting part of it now is probably the fact that most of the cabin crew are not around any more. After the incident, we had reunions for the next 15 years and were all rather close. Alastair saved the day flying the aeroplane, but a lot of credit goes to John Heward, the CSD, for organising the cabin. His role was considerable. Pandemonium could have taken place, but he made the cabin work. He made Simon hold on to me [when Nigel Ogdens arms were beginning to give out]. He was a good guy, and he died of cancer just before Christmas. Irrespective of John, had there been a weaker CSD, who knows what might have happened on that day. What happened in the wake of the event? Ive seen videos of you in hospital, shirtless, with the rest of the crew in their uniforms, and flashing cameras. How did that come about? That was the afternoon of the incident. When I came into hospital, I thought Id pranged the car, because I remembered driving to work. Then Margaret appeared, and I wondered how she would have got there if Id had an accident. Then bits of it started coming back. The crew were there by the afternoon. Apparently, senior management had to fight to keep Lord King [BA Chairman] away from me, because hed said I wanna see him! out of curiosity, you know. Then Colin Marshall [BA CEO] wanted in a couple of days later. 42 THE LOG Sum 24 pp40-44 Cockpit Conversations.indd 42 13/06/2024 12:41