‘All Four Engines Have Failed’: A qualitative study of the health impacts, reactions and behaviours of passengers and crew onboard flight BA009 which flew through a volcanic ash cloud in 1982

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dc.citation.volume124
dc.contributor.authorMeach R
dc.contributor.authorHorwell CJ
dc.contributor.authorde Terte I
dc.date.accessioned2025-05-21T02:44:08Z
dc.date.available2025-05-21T02:44:08Z
dc.date.issued2025-06-15
dc.description.abstractThis study investigated the experiences, health impacts and behaviours of passengers and crew onboard British Airways flight BA009 which flew through a volcanic ash cloud from Mount Galunggung, Indonesia, in 1982. In addition to secondary data sources, including a book published by one of the passengers, 18 semi-structured interviews were completed (14 passengers, 2 flight crew and 2 cabin crew) which were video recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis to examine the experiences, behaviours, and actions of those onboard, and the health impacts of exposure to volcanic emissions. Our analysis identified five key themes which explain how people onboard flight BA009 responded: 1) Responsibility, 2) Airmanship and prior knowledge of aviation, 3) Upbringing and cultural background, 4) Faith and 5) Behaviour of the crew. Our study found few physical health impacts associated with the exposure to the ‘smoke’ and, despite individual cases of distress, there was no mass panic onboard the aircraft. Our findings highlight valuable information on passenger and crew behaviour in aviation crises, the risks of volcanic ash clouds to aviation, and have practical implications for aviation disaster management, planning and communication.
dc.description.confidentialfalse
dc.identifier.citationMeach R, Horwell CJ, de Terte I. (2025). ‘All Four Engines Have Failed’: A qualitative study of the health impacts, reactions and behaviours of passengers and crew onboard flight BA009 which flew through a volcanic ash cloud in 1982. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 124.
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.ijdrr.2025.105558
dc.identifier.eissn2212-4209
dc.identifier.elements-typejournal-article
dc.identifier.issn2212-4209
dc.identifier.number105558
dc.identifier.piiS2212420925003826
dc.identifier.urihttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/72926
dc.languageEnglish
dc.publisherElsevier Ltd
dc.publisher.urihttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420925003826
dc.relation.isPartOfInternational Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction
dc.rights(c) The author/sen
dc.rights.licenseCC BY-NC-ND 4.0en
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/en
dc.subjectAviation
dc.subjectVolcanic eruptions
dc.subjectEmergency behaviour
dc.subjectEnvironmental disaster
dc.subjectHuman factors
dc.subjectDisaster response
dc.subjectQualitative research
dc.title‘All Four Engines Have Failed’: A qualitative study of the health impacts, reactions and behaviours of passengers and crew onboard flight BA009 which flew through a volcanic ash cloud in 1982
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.elements-id500753
pubs.organisational-groupOther
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