LONDON- Passengers on a British Airways (BA) flight from London Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur (KUL) faced an unusual delay after a ground vehicle belonging to Thales, a supplier of in-flight entertainment systems, became lodged beneath the aircraft.
The incident involved a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, forcing the airline to pull the jet from service and reschedule the 13-hour flight nearly 24 hours later than planned. Investigations into the cause are underway, but early reports suggest the vehicle rolled forward after its handbrake was left off.
British Airways 787 Grounded
The problem unfolded during pre-departure preparations on Monday night when a Thales maintenance van accidentally slid under the fuselage of the seven-year-old aircraft. Airport fire crews and ground engineers were quickly on scene to inspect the damage.
A photo shared on social media and flagged by PYOK showed the van wedged beneath the plane’s belly, surrounded by emergency personnel.
With potential structural damage to assess, British Airways had no option but to withdraw the aircraft from service. Data from FlightRadar24 indicated that the replacement flight was scheduled for departure at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, nearly a full day after the initial time.
The mishap adds to BA’s ongoing operational challenges with its Boeing 787 fleet. Persistent technical issues, particularly with the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, have already forced the airline to adjust several long-haul routes.
In December, British Airways announced the suspension of its daily Abu Dhabi (AUH) service for Summer 2025, citing engine reliability issues.
Similar problems also prompted the airline to halt flights to Kuwait (KWI) and Bahrain (BAH), and to withdraw from Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), transferring the route to its partner, American Airlines (AA).
These changes underscore the continuing maintenance and performance issues facing BA’s Dreamliners, which have disrupted scheduling and reduced fleet flexibility.
Similar Incidents
Ground vehicle collisions with aircraft, while uncommon, are not unprecedented. In April last year, Emirates (EK) grounded an Airbus A380 at Moscow Domodedovo Airport (DME) after a service truck became stuck beneath the jet. Due to parts sanctions linked to Russia, the aircraft’s return was initially uncertain, though it was later flown empty to Dubai (DXB) for repairs.
British Airways has taken legal action against the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), the operator of Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), following a 2022 incident that caused severe damage to one of its Airbus A380 aircraft.
The airline claimed the airport’s faulty ground equipment led to extensive electrical failures, grounding the jet for weeks and costing at least $293,000 in repairs and operational losses.
Faulty Ground Power Unit Blamed for A380 Damage
Court documents reveal that the nine-year-old Airbus A380, registered G-XLEL, had arrived from London Heathrow (LHR) to Boston (BOS) on June 8, 2022. After landing, the aircraft was parked and connected to ground power via a temporary Ground Power Unit (GPU), as the jetbridge’s built-in power outlet was out of service.
British Airways alleged the mobile GPU malfunctioned, severely damaging the aircraft’s electrical systems. The incident forced the immediate cancellation of the return flight to London, stranding passengers and crew in Boston.
The affected A380 had only recently rejoined active service in November 2021 after pandemic-related storage. The June 2022 damage forced it back out of operation, creating logistical and technical challenges for the airline.
British Airways faced significant hurdles in repairing the aircraft at Boston Logan. The airline lacked local maintenance contracts with A380-qualified engineers, requiring specialized components to be removed and flown to London for inspection and repair.
Once the repairs were completed, the A380 had to be ferried back to London empty before reentering commercial service. The process stretched over several weeks, disrupting schedules and adding to the airline’s operational costs.
On June 9, 2025, three years and one day after the incident, British Airways formally filed its lawsuit against Massport.
While it is believed that prior negotiations took place, the legal filing appeared to hasten discussions. Shortly after the lawsuit was filed, British Airways notified the court that a confidential out-of-court settlement had been reached. The final settlement amount has not been disclosed.
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