Boeing 747-436 incident near Johannesburg, Za, May 11, 2009
On May 11, 2009 at about 6:37 pm local time, a Boeing 747-436, registered GBYGA, was involved in an incident during takeoff near Johannesburg (Tambo International Airport). It was flown under non-U.S. commercial rules. The NTSB record does not give the injuries.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this incident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 2009 · about 6:37 pm local time
- Place
- Johannesburg, South Africa · Tambo International Airport
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- The NTSB record does not give the injuries.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Boeing 747-436 · all 747-436s on the register
- Registration
- GBYGA · no longer on the register · serial 28855
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. commercial rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 11, 2009 at 18:37 UTC, a British Airways Boeing 747, powered by Rolls-Royce RB211-524H2-T engines, experienced a No. 3 thrust reverser unlock light illumination during the takeoff roll from the Tambo International Airport (FAJS - formerly known as Johannesburg International Airport) while the airplane was traveling at 124 knots. The No. 2 engine thrust reverser unlock light came on at 163 knots and just prior to rotation the slats retracted. The airplane rotated and climbed at a 200 foot per minute rate. The flight crew dumped fuel and did an air turn back to FAJS where a safe and uneventful landing was made. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of South Africa. Further information pertaining to this incident may be obtained from: General Manager, Safety Promotion South African Civil Aviation Authority Private Bag X73 Halfway House Waterfall Park 1685 Pretoria South Africa Tel.: (27) 011 545 1000 E-mail: mail@caa.co.za Fax: (27) 011 545 1465 Website: http://www.caa.co.za This report is for information purposes only and contains only information obtained for, or released by the Government of South Africa.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during takeoff
The aircraft
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Rolls-Royce RB211-524H2-T (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: RB211-524H2-T (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FAJS Johannesburg
- Destination: EGLL London Heathrow
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.