Strange Plane Lands at Heathrow Airport

(London UK) – An unusual sight at London’s Heathrow Airport caught the attention of onlookers as the Airbus Beluga, a plane designed to carry large cargo, landed to deliver critical parts for a grounded British Airways aircraft. The plane, named after the beluga whale due to its distinct shape, made the journey from Toulouse, France.

The grounded British Airways Airbus A350 has been out of service since April when it was involved in a minor collision with a Virgin Atlantic 787. The incident occurred at Heathrow’s Terminal 3 while the Virgin Atlantic aircraft, empty at the time, was being towed. The two planes clipped wingtips, resulting in damage to both aircraft. Fortunately, no passengers were on board, and no injuries were reported.

While the Virgin Atlantic plane was quickly repaired and returned to service, the British Airways Airbus A350 required more extensive repairs due to significant damage. The Airbus Beluga’s delivery of spare parts is expected to aid in finally bringing the British Airways plane back into operation.

British Airways confirmed that its aircraft was stationary at the time of the collision, and the full extent of the damage led to the prolonged grounding of the plane. The arrival of the Beluga is a crucial step in the repair process, ensuring that the grounded aircraft will soon be ready for service.

The Airbus Beluga, a rare sight at Heathrow, is designed for transporting oversized cargo, primarily parts for other aircraft. Its distinctive shape and function make it an essential asset for moving large components that cannot be carried by standard aircraft.

According to flight tracking service Flightradar24, the Beluga was scheduled to return to its home base in Toulouse later the same day after delivering the parts.

The incident between the British Airways and Virgin Atlantic planes was considered minor, with no significant disruption to airport operations. Emergency services and ground crews were on the scene immediately following the collision, ensuring the safety of all involved.

While the damage to the British Airways plane has taken months to repair, the use of the Airbus Beluga demonstrates the logistical effort required to transport the necessary components for large scale repairs.