A murder probe has been launched after one woman died and eight others were rushed to hospital following a fire in Hounslow.
Metropolitan Police officers attended a property on Berkley Avenue in west London in the early hours of today following reports of a fire.
Nine people were rushed to hospital, where sadly one woman, 48, died despite the best efforts of medical staff.
Her next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained police officers.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, another woman, 40, remains in hospital with her condition being described as ‘life-threatening’.
The other seven, which included six men and one woman, have since been discharged from hospital after being treated for minor injuries.
It is understood both the London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service attended the incident. No arrests have been made.
Detective Chief Inspector Neil John, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘Our thoughts are first and foremost with the victim’s family and loved ones at this extremely difficult time, as well as everyone who has been injured.
Advertisement
‘Our enquiries are progressing at pace as we work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the fire, which we believe may have been started deliberately.
A murder probe has been launched after one woman died and eight others were rushed to hospital following a fire in Hounslow (Pictured: Berkley Avenue where the incident took place)
‘We understand this to be an isolated incident within a residential address; however, we understand it will cause concern within the local community. Officers will remain in the area throughout the day, and we will provide updates as our investigation continues.
Advertisement
‘I would ask anyone with information that could assist our enquiries, including CCTV, doorbell camera or dashcam footage, to contact us.’
Anyone with information or footage of the incident is urged to contact the force by calling 101 and quoting CAD 359/19Aug.
Alternatively, those who wish to provide information anonymously can do so via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Advertisement
Share or comment on this article:
One woman is dead and eight are hurt after house fire in London: Murder probe is launched
Prof Peter Johnson, National Clinical Director for Cancer at NHS England, told the BBC’s Today Programme it was an exciting development.
“Most of the cancer immune treatments we have been using up til now have been about cutting the immune system loose and hoping that it recognises the cancer. This [new treatment] is a way to direct it very specifically.
“It feels like it’s a very important advance for us.” He said the NHS was preparing to bring this type of treatment to patients.
Merck and Moderna are calling this a personalised vaccine, meaning it works by targeting an individual patient’s tumour.
Advertisement
In order to create this new jab, scientists used mRNA technology – which was used for some Covid-19 vaccines – to target specific mutations within the cancer cells by surgically removing a small part of a patient’s tumour and then sequencing its DNA.
The result is a personalised anti-cancer jab which is specific to the patient’s tumour and instructs the immune system to recognise and attack any tumour cells that remain.
The two companies are testing other similar personalised vaccines for lung, bladder and kidney cancers.
Stephane Bancel, chief executive of Moderna, said the findings represent a “pivotal moment” in the field of cancer research.
Cancer experts have also hailed the news as positive, but are keen to stress the findings are still early.
Dr Talisia Quallo, head of prevention and early detection at Cancer Research UK, said the research “shows promise” but said that the interim data still needs to be fully reviewed.
“It’s vital that research like this continues to be funded so that more people with cancer can have personalised treatment options to help them live longer, better lives”, she added.
Advertisement
Dr Lennard Lee, a consultant medical oncologist, and associate professor at the University of Oxford, said: “This is certainly good news for patients with melanoma, but the study has much wider implications. It provides proof of principle that personalised cancer vaccines work.”
More detailed findings from the study will be presented at a medical conference in October.
Harry and Meghan are set to return to the UK later this month
08:54, 20 Aug 2026Updated 08:58, 20 Aug 2026
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are planning to relocate back to Britain in a surprising turn of events more than six years after moving to America.
Harry and Megan will return to the UK later this month – making their new home in a non-royal property outside London – and have already enrolled Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet at British schools. It is understood there will be no change to the couple’s position and standing as private citizens and non-working royals.
The King, who continues to undergo cancer treatment, was made aware of the move on Sunday, just three days before the public announcement. But it is understood King Charles welcomes the chance to spend more time with the family in both a private and personal capacity.
Advertisement
Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter
William has become estranged from his younger brother following Harry’s series of allegations against the prince, Kate, the King and Queen Camilla in the years following the Megxit crisis of 2020. The Prince of Wales is likely to be ‘apoplectic’ at the announcement, a royal expert has said.
But what do you think – are you happy to hear the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are returning to the UK with their children? Let us know in our poll.
You can resit any GCSE exam the following academic year.
In England, students need maths and English GCSEs at grade 4 or above to qualify for further study – although you can prepare for resits alongside your new subjects.
The next set of resits for English and maths are expected to take place in November 2026.
If you want to explore resitting a subject, you should speak to your school or college about the best course of action.
Belfast Vital is back with two massive sold-out shows.
Advertisement
Tens of thousands of fans are expected to travel to Boucher Road Playing Fields in South Belfast this week for the annual music festival.
We’ve put together this handy guide – including how to get there, gate times and more – to save you from having to stress about all the finer details of planning your night out.]Here is what you need to know ahead of Belfast Vital 2025
Here is what you need to know ahead of Belfast Vital 2026:
Who is performing at Belfast Vital?
This year, two massive concerts are set to take over Boucher Road Playing Fields.
They are:
Lewis Capaldi – August 20
Calvin Harris – August 22
Both of the gigs are sold out.
What are the gate times for Belfast Vital?
Lewis Capaldi – August 20:
Gates: 5pm
Advertisement
Show starts: 8pm
Calvin Harris – August 22:
Gates: 4pm
Show starts: 5pm
Advertisement
Last entry for both shows is 9:30pm. Timings are subject to change.
Stage times for either of the two gigs have not yet been announced but keep an eye out on Belfast Vital’s social media pages for any further updates.
Who are Lewis Capaldi and Calvin Harris’ support acts for Belfast shows?
Lewis Capaldi will be supported by:
Advertisement
Calvin Harris will be supported by:
Jazzy
Robbie Doherty
Tyson O’Brien
How do I get to the Boucher Road Playing Fields for Belfast Vital?
If you are attending either of the two shows, organisers are asking concert-goers to plan their journeys in advance.
Boucher Road is really accessible via public transport and those attending are asked to make use of this facility as there is no parking available in the vicinity of the venue.
Fans are advised to park in the City Centre and either walk to the concert or avail of the Translink Metro and rail Services.
Promoters MCD have said to allow yourself at least an additional 3 hours travel time to and from the venue.
Advertisement
BY RAIL: Pre-booking is recommended. For train schedules and more information visit Translink. Note: Adelaide Halt will not be available on the days of the Vital Concerts.
BY BUS: Must be booked online in advance. For more information visit Bus Special on the Translink website.
BY CAR: No parking at venue – use city centre car parks and public transport. Partial road closures in place on Boucher Road and Stockman’s Lane.
Customers should plan to be within the venue 30 mins before the show starts.
Advertisement
Belfast Vital age restrictions:
A strict age policy will be in place. The promoter reserves the right to refuse admission without refund to anyone who fails to comply.
Lewis Capaldi: Recommended over 16’s. Under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult 25+ at all times.
Calvin Harris: Strictly over 17’s only. Valid physical ID required (photocopies not accepted).
Need to know information from the promoters:
Please allow ample time when exiting the arena.
Lewis Capaldi Only: Under 17s and parents with children should wait 15 mins after the concert before starting to exit. Merchandise, refreshments and food outlets will remain open.
Strict age restrictions. Check ticket T&C’s.
For health and safety, camping chairs or collapsible chairs are not allowed. Security will have to refuse you entry with them.
This event will take place rain, hail or shine. Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly for the weather – think wellies, boots or runners, layers, raincoats/ponchos and suncream but remember no umbrellas.
Show your ticket at the ticket check outside the venue for inspection.
Strict security checks will be in operation. Everyone will be subject to a search permissible under law, per Purchase Policy. It is a condition to entry, to protect everyone’s safety. Additional searches may take place once inside the venue.
Patrons are especially advised not to bring large bags/backpacks bigger than A4 as they may experience delays or be refused entry. There will be no storage facilities on site. Any items left at entrances/in surrounding areas will be removed and disposed of accordingly.
Bags larger than A4, signs/flags bigger than A3, flag poles, glass or cans, umbrellas, alcohol, e-scooters/e-bikes, disposable vapes, flares, professional cameras and audio recording equipment will not be permitted. See the full list of prohibited items on Prohibited Items | MCD.ie.
Soft collapsible water skins permitted in all areas. No hard plastic, metal or glass reusables permitted.
Obey the stewards and PSNI, and any advice and instructions given over the public address for your own safety.
There are no re-admissions to the concert. If you leave, there is no re-entry.
The Promoter reserves the right to refuse admission without refund to anyone who fails to comply with these T&Cs, as agreed by customer and per Ticketmaster Purchase Policy.
The reclusive puzzle-setter was thrown into the world of policing in the first season after his identical twin brother James, a detective chief inspector, vanished without explanation.
The second series finds John working officially as a Crime Scene Consultant for the Cambridge Police Authority, teaming up with DCI Russell Carter (Dipo Ola) on seemingly “impossible” crimes.
No longer masquerading as James, he is “more Ludwig than ever”, brilliant at puzzles but hopeless at almost everything else.
Advertisement
The fate of his brother, though, still eludes him, the BBC’s official synopsis shares.
Returning alongside Mitchell and Ola are Anna Maxwell Martin as Lucy Betts-Taylor, Dorothy Atkinson as DCS Carol Shaw, Ralph Ineson as Chief Constable Ziegler, Karl Pilkington as DI Matt Neville and Dylan Hughes as Henry Betts-Taylor.
Meanwhile, fresh faces include Mark Bonnar as newspaper editor Gareth Fisher and Sian Clifford as local MP Joanne Kemper.
Advertisement
Discussing where we find Ludwig at the start of the second season, Mitchell shared: “At the start of this series, he’s discovered all this evidence and potential clues to the terrible thing that’s been going on that made his brother disappear.
“But it’s boxes and boxes.
“He’s quite happily pottering his way through them, trying to work out which of the conspiracy theories are absolute nonsense and which of them might have a kernel of truth.
“It’s like a big jumbo crossword that you can luxuriate over for a whole Sunday afternoon but, in this case, a Sunday afternoon might turn into months.”
Ahead of the second series airing, the BBC commissioned Ludwig for a third.
Advertisement
Mitchell said: “I am delighted that Ludwig will be returning to solve more of Mark Brotherhood’s brilliant mysteries.
“I can’t wait to get started and have renewed the subscription on my denouement-learning app.”
Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy Commissioning, said: “Ludwig is exactly the kind of smart, distinctive, audience-pleasing show we love at BBC Comedy.
Advertisement
“Sharp writing, a compelling story, big laughs and, naturally, a generous helping of puzzles.
“The team at Big Talk have crafted something truly distinctive and much-loved, and we’re excited to see what mysteries Ludwig tackles next.”
Ludwig series 2 full cast list
David Mitchell as John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor
Anna Maxwell Martin as Lucy Betts-Taylor
Dipo Ola as DCI Russell Carter
Ralph Ineson as Chief Constable Ziegler
Dorothy Atkinson as DCS Carol Shaw
Ben Ashenden as DC Ethan Cole
Rumi Sutton as DCI Caitlin Sullivan
Michael Wildman as DCC Clint Radley
Dylan Hughes as Henry Betts-Taylor
Karl Pilkington as DI Matt Neville
Mark Bonnar as Gareth Fisher
Sian Clifford as Joanne Kemper
Rebecca Front as Patricia Lowery
Doon Mackichan as Portia Lowery
Gillian Royale as Lilibeth Lowery
Josh Bolt as Adam Newsum
Bairavi Manoharan as Hannah Foster
Daniel Lawrence Taylor as Aiden Mooney
Gary Beadle as Phillip Mooney
Rory Douglas-Speed as Tristan Price
Michelle Greenidge as Jackie Mooney
Tsion Habte as Sienna Mooney
Lloyd Bowen as Owen Doyle
Stephen Merchant as Danny Sloane
Recommended reading:
When will Ludwig series 2 be on TV?
Ludwig’s second series will begin at 9pm on BBC One on Thursday, July 20.
After that, the remaining five episodes will air weekly in the same timeslot.
Advertisement
Alternatively, the first three episodes will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer after the premiere airs.
The final three episodes will then follow in September.
Will you be watching season two of Ludwig? Let us know in the comments.
“Children benefited from warm, nurturing relationships and meaningful experiences that supported their wellbeing, confidence and development.”
A council-run nursery in Ayr has received a near flawless report from the Care Inspectorate.
Advertisement
Wallacetown Early Years Centre, on Queen Street, was graded ‘excellent’ across one quality indicator and ‘very good’ across two others.
To achieve an ‘excellent’ grading from the care scrutiny body- the highest grade possible- is rare.
‘Very good’ gradings- the second highest grade possible, is also difficult to achieve during an unannounced spot check.
But inspectors declared that the service displayed “sector-leading practice” in nurturing care and support that enabled all children to “reach their full potential.”
Advertisement
The unannounced inspection took place in July with the findings now published.
Among the other key messages the Care Inspectorate said the service promoted an ethos of “love, respect and inclusion.”
And “well-resourced,” stimulating indoor and outdoor environments promoted “curiosity, independence and creativity.”
In addition, staff knew children and families “very well” and provided the support and care they required in a “kind and nurturing way.”
Advertisement
The positives continued; children were supported and nurtured through their daily experiences, leading to “high-quality outcomes.”
And quality assurance and improvement processes were “inclusive of staff, children and families.”
An extract from the report said there were “major strengths” to the service.
Advertisement
The report continues: “The service’s vision, values and aims had recently been reviewed and clearly set out their vision of providing continuous improvement, in a supportive aspirational nurturing way to offer inclusive early learning of the highest standard. These, alongside the curriculum rationale, were shared with families through a variety of information booklets and play and stay sessions, which outlined the service’s approach to learning, wellbeing and development. Children benefited from warm, nurturing relationships and meaningful experiences that supported their wellbeing, confidence and development.”
The report also noted the “strong culture” of teamwork and “shared responsibility” across the service, with staff and leaders “working collaboratively” to support improvement.
And staff were “open, reflective and fully engaged” throughout the inspection process, demonstrating a “clear understanding” of the service’s improvement journey.
The report goes on: “The newly appointed management team had a clear understanding of the strengths of the service as well as areas for further development. They had used self-evaluation well to identify priorities and take action. Improvement planning was meaningful and linked closely to the vision and aims of the service. Leaders could evidence progress regarding improving lunchtime experiences for children and provide examples of how developments had influenced practice. Children’s voices were recognised and valued, helping to shape this improved experience and contribute to service development.”
Advertisement
Leadership was graded ‘very good’ in the report and in the quality indicator relating to children’s play and learning, this too was graded ‘very good.’
In the quality indicator relating to supporting children to achieve, the service was graded ‘excellent.’
The report adds: “Aspects of (the service’s) performance were outstanding and sector leading. Strong, trusting relationships with families were a cornerstone of the nursery’s approach. Staff actively encouraged family engagement throughout the year, holding regular meetings to discuss children’s personal plans, learning, and development.”
In camps and rural communities across Syria, a brightly painted bus is bringing books, puppets and art workshops to children who have grown up with war
In a dusty clearing inside Kafr Lusin camp, in the rural reaches of northern Idlib in Syria, a brightly coloured bus pulls up with books and cartoon characters painted across its sides.
Within minutes, children begin moving towards it, curious at first, then excited, gathering around the doors as they open to reveal shelves of books, boxes of art supplies and a small puppet theatre.
Advertisement
Soon, a performance begins, and the space around the bus fills with the laughter of children who have had little chance to experience anything like this. For a few hours, there are stories to listen to, pictures to draw, games to play and characters to cheer. In a place where childhood has too often been shaped by displacement, fear and waiting, the arrival of a bus can feel like a small festival.
The project is known as the Mobile Cultural Bus, an initiative launched by Syria’s Ministry of Culture with support from a group of volunteers. Its aim is simple enough: to take books, art and cultural activities to children and families in areas that have little or no access to libraries, community centres or safe creative spaces.
Solutions every Saturday Uplift your inbox with our weekly newsletter. Positive News editors select the week’s top stories of progress, bringing you the essential briefing about what’s going right. Sign up
For the children who run to meet it, however, the bus is more than a travelling library. It is a break in the day, a doorway into stories and, for some, the first time they have been invited to make something, imagine something or hold a book of their own.
Advertisement
Syria’s long years of conflict have torn through the country’s education and cultural life. Schools have been damaged or destroyed, community centres have closed, and families have been uprooted again and again. In rural areas and camps, where daily life can be reduced to the search for safety, food, water and work, cultural activities are often treated as a luxury.
Mohammad Murad, the project director, says that is exactly why the bus was created. “We realised that many children had never stepped foot inside a library,” he says. “Our thinking was simple: if they cannot go to culture, we must bring culture to them.”
For a few hours, there are stories to listen to, pictures to draw, games to play and characters to cheer
The initiative began with an old bus donated by a supporter. Volunteers cleaned it, repaired it and repainted it in bright colours before turning it into a mobile educational space. Today, it carries novels and short stories for both children and adults, alongside learning materials, drawing equipment and craft supplies.
When the bus arrives in a village, town or camp, the team usually spends several hours with the children. A visit might begin with a group storytelling session, followed by drawing, handicrafts or reading, before ending with a puppet show or educational games. The format is deliberately simple, but the response can be immediate.
Advertisement
“For these children, the arrival of the bus is an extraordinary event,” says Sarah al-Khatib, a volunteer teacher with the project. “Many have spent years living in a state of tension and fear because of the war and the shelling of their towns by the former Syrian regime. But when we arrive, we see the atmosphere shift completely; laughter and joy reclaim the space.”
Al-Khatib says the volunteers are not pretending that a book or a puppet show can undo what the children have lived through. What they can do is offer attention, routine and a brief return to something that looks and feels like childhood.
“Seeing the happiness on their faces is what makes us forget our exhaustion,”she says. “We may not be able to offer a lot, but we can offer our time and expertise. Sometimes, a simple story or an activity can leave a profound impact.”
That impact is often felt most clearly by children who would otherwise have almost no access to books. Among them is 12-year-old Walid al-Samahi, from the town of Al-Qutayfah in rural Damascus, who loves science fiction but can’t afford books. For him, the mobile library’s visit is one of the few chances he has to enter a world beyond his daily life.
When we arrive, we see the atmosphere shift completely; laughter and joy reclaim the space
“I find so much joy in reading these stories, and I am always eager for a new book,” he tells Positive News. “This is the first time I’ve held a book filled with so many pictures and tales. When I grow up, I want to become a teacher so I can give children books like these, so they don’t have to feel as lonely as I did.” As he speaks, he hugs the small book and breaks into a wide smile, as if he has found somewhere to live for a while inside its pages.
Advertisement
So far, the Mobile Cultural Bus has visited dozens of villages and neighbourhoods, reaching thousands of children. According to the project team, its first phase covered 39 areas in Damascus and its surrounds before expanding to other provinces, with Homs among its more recent stops. The project currently operates with two buses, which means the volunteers still have far more requests than they can answer.
The need is enormous. Unicef’s 2026 humanitarian appeal for Syria says that more than 2.5 million children are out of school, while nearly 8,000 schools need urgent rehabilitation. Overcrowded classrooms, damaged buildings, a shortage of learning materials and the displacement of families continue to make education difficult for many children.
Against that backdrop, a bus filled with books cannot solve the education crisis. It cannot rebuild a school or replace the teachers Syria has lost. But it can reach children who are cut off from learning and culture, and it can remind them that they are allowed to ask questions, make things, laugh loudly and imagine a future that is not defined only by loss.
For Murad and the volunteers, the bus is not just delivering stories; it is treating culture as something children in camps and rural communities are entitled to, rather than something reserved for those living in city centres or more stable places.
In a country trying to recover from years of devastation, the sight of children gathering around a brightly painted bus may look modest. But for those waiting on the roadside, it brings a rare window of joy and learning, and perhaps the start of a new dream.
Images provided by Sonia al-Ali
Advertisement
Be part of the solution
At Positive News, we’re not chasing clicks or profits for media moguls – we’re here to serve you and have a positive social impact. We can’t do this unless enough people like you choose to support our journalism.
Give once from just £1, or join 1,800+ others who contribute an average of £3 or more per month. Together, we can build a healthier form of media – one that focuses on solutions, progress and possibilities, and empowers people to create positive change.
<a href='https://news.sky.com/story/politics-latest-andy-burnham-labour-kemi-badenoch-tories-nigel-farage-reform-12593360?postid=12252391#liveblog-body'>Miliband summons top Israeli envoy over 'unacceptable and destructive' settlement project</a>
<a href='https://news.sky.com/story/politics-latest-andy-burnham-labour-kemi-badenoch-tories-nigel-farage-reform-12593360?postid=12252391#liveblog-body'>Miliband summons top Israeli envoy over 'unacceptable and destructive' settlement project</a>
The boss of Travelodge has abruptly quit as the chain continues to overhaul its safety procedures following a sexual assault at one of its hotels.
Travelodge said Joanna Boydell, who had been chief executive for just over four years, stepped down and will be replaced by finance boss Ray Reidy on an interim basis.
The budget hotel chain has faced criticism over security failures, following the sexual assault of a woman by a man who was given a key card by Travelodge staff.
Kyran Smith, who was jailed for seven-and-a-half years for the assault, attacked a woman in December 2022 at the Maidenhead branch of Travelodge. He lied to staff, telling them that he was the victim’s boyfriend.
Advertisement
Boydell was asked to meet MPs and peers to discuss the case, including Travelodge’s security procedures that led to it offering the victim a £30 refund after the incident.
It apologised for the offer, which it said was inappropriate under the circumstances, and opened a review into its security processes.
Boydell faced criticism for cancelling a meeting with MPs, with Sir Keir Starmer calling on Boydell to ‘seriously engage’ with the government. Reporting of the case led to other people coming forward to report security concerns at Travelodge hotels.
Advertisement
Jo Boydell joined Travelodge as chief financial officer in 2013 before stepping up as chief executive in 2022
The hotel chain ordered an independent review and, among other measures, now requires explicit permission from guests for any additional or replacement room keys.
It said it had also launched a partnership with a Violence Against Women and Girls expert.
Boydell joined Travelodge as chief financial officer in 2013 before stepping up to lead the hotel chain in May 2022.
Advertisement
Reidy today said: ‘We remain focused on the safety and well-being of our guests and will continue taking the actions necessary to strengthen the business. We will also continue to engage proactively and constructively with Government and the wider hospitality industry on the issue of safety and security.’
Travelodge chair Stephen Shurrock added: ‘We are delighted that Ray Reidy has agreed to serve as Interim CEO.
‘This announcement does not change anything about our focus on safety and security. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Jo for her dedication to Travelodge over the last 13 years.’
Boydell’s departure comes as Travelodge reported a jump in revenue from £471.3million to £491.3million in the first half of the year.
Advertisement
It said it had benefited from a strong summer of events, including Harry Styles at Wembley Stadium, and the London Marathon which delivered a ‘record revenue night for London’.
DIY INVESTING PLATFORMS
AJ Bell
AJ Bell
Easy investing and ready-made portfolios
Hargreaves Lansdown
Hargreaves Lansdown
Free fund dealing and investment ideas
interactive investor
interactive investor
Flat-fee investing from £4.99 per month
Freetrade
Freetrade
Investing Isa now free on basic plan
Trading 212
Trading 212
Free share dealing and no account fee
Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence.
WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT A horrific crash saw a Boeing 747 jetliner collide with the side of a mountain as the pilot and crew desperately tried to save the plane, uttering some devastating final words as the plane went down.
The single deadliest air crash in aviation history left the desperate pilot uttering “harrowing” final words as he faced his impending death.
Advertisement
In 1985 a Boeing 747 jetliner crashed into a mountain range just north west of Tokyo – in Ueno, Gunma, Japan.
Amid the remains of the Japan Airlines plane and the souls that tragically lost their lives on board, an investigation meant the black box was recovered. The information inside it was horrifying, according to France 24.
The cockpit voice recording left aviation journalist David Learmount, who has investigated and reported on air incidents for almost five decades, shocked.
David said reading the CVR transcript was so upsetting that it left him in tears.
Advertisement
David, a consulting editor on Flightglobal magazine toldThe Mirror: “I’ve lost count of the number of CVRS I’ve listened to and transcripts I’ve read from accidents – and the Japan Airlines 123 remains the only one that ever made me cry.
“The transcript was so harrowing I could not listen to the CVR. The pilots were talking to each other in a state of deep distress because they didn’t know what was going on and what they could do.
“It wasn’t just fear. They wanted to save their airplane, to save their own lives and the lives of everybody on board, and they didn’t know what to do. You’ve never heard that kind of distress. “
Advertisement
The doomed plane took oon August 12 from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. The airport was crowded with thousands trying to get home as it was the eve of Obon – a Japanese Buddhist custom when most of the country traditionally honour their ancestors, often returning to their home towns for family reunions.
At 6.12pm, Japan Airlines 123 took off heading to Osaka, 400 kilometres to the west. It was filled almost to capacity. 509 passengers and a crew of 15. The flight time was 52 minutes. The most senior pilot on board was Captain Masami Takahama, 49.
Takahama was was one of the airlines’ senior training captains. He was supporting the First Officer Yutaka Saski, 39, who was captaining the flight. Also on board was Hiroshi Fukuda, a veteran flight engineer.
For the first few minutes after take off, all was fine. As the plane climbed, the air pressure difference between the air inside the cabin and the air outside the cabin grew greater and greater.
Approximately 12 minutes after takeoff, the aircraft experienced a loud explosion. Oxygen masks dropped down in front of hysterical passengers. The cabin altitude alarm was blaring, alerting the pilots that the air inside the plane was now too thin to breathe.
The piloting crew radioed an emergency to air traffic control.
Captain Masami Takahama requested a turn back to Haneda- now 70 miles behind them. He was unaware the bang which was heard in the cockpit was due to a hole at the rear of the plane and this wave of pressure had blasted off a huge section of the aircraft’s tail, including the rudder, the auxiliary power unit, and several other critical control systems.
Advertisement
The captain instructed his first officer to turn to the right to head back to Haneda but he started banking too steeply. But no matter what the first officer did, he couldn’t turn the plane back to wings level.
Horrified Hiroshi Fukuda, the flight engineer could now see that hydraulic pressure has dropped. The plane had a complete hydraulics failure and there was no checklist to deal with this nightmare scenario.
Flight 123 began to swing from side to side like a falling leaf – a nauseating movement for passengers. Without hydraulic power, the pilots could no longer control the pitch of the aircraft. It began plunging up and down hundreds of metres at a time in a terrifying rollercoaster cycle.
Passengers began scribbling farewell notes to loved ones, which were later found in the wreckage. Using the engine power, they were able to slow down the erratic moments and even turn the plane momentarily.
Advertisement
“By increasing engine power on the left side, the plane would turn to the right. Increasing power on the right side, the airplane would turn to the left. So that helped. However, they still thought they could attempt to control the plane manually, which they couldn’t,” said David.
And their altitude pilots were now dulled by hypoxia – having been too distracted to put on their oxygen mask. In the cabin, passengers were running out of oxygen.
Their best hope was a controlled crash landing at Haneda, but the plane needed to lose altitude. The flight engineer suggested they could lower the landing gear without hydraulic power. For the first time since leaving Tokyo, the plane had now dipped below 20,000 feet.
Advertisement
A lower altitude now brought a new danger. Straight ahead of the plane loomed a towering mountain range. The aircraft began diving at more than 18,000 feet per minute, 10 times the normal rate of descent.
“Raise nose, raise nose…. power” were the captain’s last words as the ground proximity alarm buzzed around him before the CVR cut out on impact. The pilots fought a losing battle for almost 30 minutes before the plane hit the Mount Takamagahara area, close to Mount Fuji.
The right wing tip and its outermost engine hit the mountain ridge and was ripped off. The plane spun onto its back and careened into the mountainside at hundreds of kilometres per hour, igniting into an enormous fireball.
Miraculously – there were some survivors. This included a 12-year-old girl whose parents and sister were killed in the crash. Her family were all seated at the back of the plane, where impact forces were not as great as at the front, and luck protected them from flying debris.
Advertisement
The investigation into the crash concluded that a faulty repair on the aircraft seven years earlier had ultimately caused the fatal malfunction. During a landing in Osaka in 1978, the pilot had pitched the plane’s nose too high and slammed the tail into the runway.
The rear pressure bulkhead, a critical structural component in aircraft, specifically designed to maintain cabin pressure, was severely damaged.
Boeing engineers performed the botched repair – which led to an ever weakening structure, which led to an ever-weakening structure. It wasn’t a question of if it would fail, it was when. David said: “It was a patch-up job, not a repair. They took a shortcut trying to fix it and put the plane back in action.”
Over time, repeated pressurisation while in the air put stress on the incorrectly repaired section. The cracks led to metal fatigue and ultimately, the separation of the aircraft’s tail.
Advertisement
By August 12, 1985, the plane had flown more than 12,000 times since the dangerously sub-par repair. But on that flightt, the damaged bulkhead reached breaking point.
The rapid decompression also ruptured hydraulic systems, rendering the aircraft uncontrollable, although the pilots tried desperately to prevent the inevitable.
Boeing redesigned the tail of the 747, so that rapid pressure spikes in the tail plane would no longer cause the kind of structural failure which occurred on flight 123, and also redesigned the plane’s hydraulic systems, so that the loss of the aircraft’s tail would not result in the total depletion of all hydraulic systems.
Japan Airlines also changed its maintenance procedures, putting in place stricter supervision of important repair work and making regular inspections more thorough.
Advertisement
Although the crash was Boeing’s fault, the airline was subject to an onslaught of national fury. After the crash, Japan Airlines paid 780million yen ($7.6million) to the victims’ families – not as compensation, but as “condolence money”. The company decided against taking criminal action against Boeing.
Japan Airlines president Yasumoto Takagi resigned from his post. The company’s maintenance manager, Hiroo Tominaga, died by suicide. Susuma Tajima, the engineer who checked and cleared the 747SR for takeoff before its final flight, also took his own life after the crash.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login