A U.S Airways flight heading to Amsterdam Airport from London City airport crash landed into the River Thames at 14:00 15th December due to 2 drones colliding with the planes engine, damaging the fuel pipe. The RNLI confirmed that the aircraft landed at the Purfleet RSPB Reserve approximately 100 miles from shore.
The Metropolitan police have taken this as a potential act of terrorism due to the 2 drones having the same tape on them as 2 IED’s. one IED was identified at Aberts Farm Nature Reserve in Essex and the other was found on Lookout Hill in Thamesmead. This has gone down as a criminal investigation due to the drone being specific British military models, where only 734 where made, the military are now contributing to this investigation.
The Metropolitan Police has also given information on the arrest of 2citizens, both citizens working in an oyster packing shed in East Mersey. The criminals have been charged with being in possession of explosives and currently in custody. Another suspect is being questioned due to being in possession of software and electronics to endanger an aircraft, the suspect can be charged for a minimum of 5 years. The suspect has been questioned due to having 20mm of copper pipping purchased form a local WIX.
None of the 42 passengers or 6 crew members suffered serious injuries at the forefront of the crash, with only 2 passengers reporting minor injuries. One passenger was later admitted to Queens Hospital in Romford, suspected of having a heart attack, engineered to be in a safe state, however was later cleared.
Purfleet Heritage & Military Centre started supplying passengers with food and drink once the passengers were rescued and returned to shore by the RNLI via rafts, then during this period they were encouraged to contact their friends and families. For those who did not have a way home, London City Airport assisted passengers seeking assistance in finding a way home, whether by taxi or another flight.
As it currently stands, with the Air Accidents Investigation Department, US Airways US312 is under repair. As soon as the passengers got off the aircraft and were relocated out of the river, the AAIB began to man the plane. It must be expected that the AAIB would carry the aircraft back to its usual state in a matter of a few days.