THE two engines on the British Airways plane crash-landed by a captain from Worcester twice failed to respond to demands for more thrust as the aircraft came into land, according to an initial report.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said the flight had been normal until that point but the Boeing 777 "descended rapidly and struck the ground some 1,000ft short of the paved runway surface, just inside the airfield boundary fence" at Heathrow airport on Thursday.

The report went on: "At approximately 600ft and two miles from touch down, the autothrottle demanded an increase in thrust from the two engines but the engines did not respond.

"Following further demands for increased thrust from the autothrottle, and subsequently the flight crew moving the throttle levers, the engines similarly failed to respond.

"The aircraft speed reduced and the aircraft descended onto the grass short of the paved runway surface."

The report was released shortly after 43-year-old captain Peter Burkill, of King Stephens Mount, St Johns, Worcester, spoke of the teamwork and professionalism of his cockpit and cabin crew.

The father-of-three said BA staff were trained to deal with emergencies and to follow procedures. He also said flying was about teamwork and he praised the "high standard of skill and professionalism" by the crew of flight BA038.