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The UK investigator of civil aircraft accidents has commended a flight crew for staying calm when their aircraft's controls jammed in mid-air.
The outbound cargo flight from Iceland to the UK was about 1.5 hours into the journey from Keflavik to the East Midlands last October when an autopilot caution warning was triggered.
According to a report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), ice likely formed on the control system, restricting movement, “causing a jam in roll control”.
The weather in Keflavik at the time of departure was largely wet, with rain and drizzle, and the maximum temperature was 9C, according to AAIB.
Investigators said the crew were able to free the controls by “jointly applying force in the same direction on the control wheel”.
The Boeing 767-316F was carrying fresh goods on pallets and landed safely at East Midlands airport in Derby without further incident.
The AAIB added: “The crew dealt with the incident calmly, descending first before applying force to the control wheels and releasing the jam.
“Previous simulator training had provided them with experience of a jammed control, which proved accurate and useful.
“The well-known possibility of ice also meant the crew had a good plan for how to tackle the jam.”
Earlier this month, a United Airlines copilot acknowledged the aircraft was flying too low before it struck a light pole during a landing at Newark Liberty in May.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated in its initial findings that the first officer recalled telling the pilot, “you are still slow and a little low”, as the plane descended.
Both the pilot and other crew members reported hearing a loud “thump” and experiencing a “mild jolt” just moments before the aircraft landed.
Read more: Report reveals details of flight that hit pole coming in to land at New Jersey Airport
