Computer failure emerged yesterday as the most likely cause of flight BA038’s crash-landing, as its wreckage was removed from the southern runway at Heathrow Airport.

British Airways technical staff believe that the Boeing aircraft’s computerised control system caused both engines to fail during its final descent towards Heathrow on Thursday. All 136 passengers and 16 crew survived.

The aircraft was just two miles from touchdown and at a height of 600ft when it lost power suddenly. John Coward, the Senior First Officer, averted disaster by landing the craft just within Heathrow’s fence.

Experts said that a simultaneous mechanical failure of both engines was “unthinkable”. They suggested the fault must lie in the computer system that controlled the engines.

“There are separate autothrottles, a left computer and a right computer . . . everything is split,” a former 777 pilot said. “For both engines to fail at the same time it has got to have been commanded.” The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is examining all possibilities and has downloaded full data from the flight recorders. Its initial report made clear that it would focus on “the range of aircraft systems that could influence engine operation”.

Computer malfunction in 2005 almost caused a Malaysia Airlines 777 to stall, by slowing its airspeed from 270 knots to 158 knots and putting it into a 3,000ft climb. The pilot prevented disaster by disconnecting the autopilot and pushing the nose down. Another glitch last year caused a 777 to lurch to the right over the Atlantic. The captain had to quickly disengage the autopilot.

As BA’s stricken aircraft was moved to a hangar yesterday, other hypotheses were being aired. One was that a “bird strike” had shut down both engines. The impact of large birds hitting the fans inside the engine can cause damage, but no witnesses noted seeing flocks of birds near by. Another theory is that water got into the fuel.

The preliminary report from the AAIB into the incident is expected to be released in 30 days.

Times Recommends

• ‘Lame duck’ fear for FSA as chief quits
• Storm over bailout of EU's most ailing economy
• Northern Rock to drop 100% savings guarantee