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A 23-year-old Virgin Atlantic aircraft engineer has died after suffering critical injuries while performing maintenance on one of the airline’s Boeing 787 aircraft at London Heathrow Airport (LHR).
According to reports, Georgie Buxton was carrying out maintenance tests on a Boeing 787 when a piece of equipment or machinery is believed to have suddenly collapsed and crushed him during the incident. He was rushed to the hospital, where he remained in intensive care for four weeks before life support was withdrawn earlier this month. Virgin Atlantic confirmed Buxton’s death, describing him as a “much-loved member” of its engineering team.
Buxton joined the airline as an Aircraft Technician approximately two years ago. Colleagues described him as a well-liked and valued member of the engineering department, while reports indicate his family remained at his bedside throughout his hospitalization.
The Daily Mail reports that Virgin Atlantic has launched an internal investigation and is working alongside the relevant authorities and Boeing to determine exactly what led to the fatal accident. The airline has not disclosed additional details about the circumstances surrounding the incident, though the Boeing 787 involved has been removed from service while the investigation continues. An inquest into Buxton’s death is expected to be formally opened and then adjourned later this week at West London Coroner’s Court.
Aircraft maintenance is among the most highly regulated areas of commercial aviation with engineers routinely working around heavy equipment, elevated platforms, hydraulic systems, and specialized testing machinery while servicing aircraft. Although fatal maintenance accidents are uncommon, the incident highlights the risks faced by aviation maintenance professionals responsible for ensuring aircraft are safe to return to service.
Virgin Atlantic said it is cooperating fully with investigators as they seek to determine the cause of the accident and whether any changes to maintenance procedures or equipment may be necessary. Virgin Atlantic currently operates 17 Boeing 787-9s, which serve many of the airline’s long-haul international routes. While the aircraft average roughly 10 years in age, they are among the oldest widebody aircraft in Virgin Atlantic’s fleet as the carrier continues to modernize with newer Airbus A330neo and Airbus A350 aircraft.
Anthony’s Take: This is so sad. My condolences to this young man’s family and friends. The investigation remains ongoing and no conclusions have been released regarding what caused the machinery involved in the maintenance operation to fail.
(Featured Image Credit: Virgin Atlantic.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
