How Captain Eric Moody saved 263 passengers aboard British Airways Flight 9 in 1982

In aviation history, few tales of survival are as gripping as that of British Airways Flight 9. On the night of 24 June 1982, the flight, operated by a Boeing 747-236B named City of Edinburgh, faced an unprecedented mid-air emergency. All four engines failed while cruising over Indonesia. The cool-headed leadership of Captain Eric Moody would ultimately save the lives of 263 passengers and crew, turning a potential disaster into an inspiring story of skill and composure.

Flight 9: From London to Auckland via Kuala Lumpur

British Airways Flight 9 was a long-haul service from London Heathrow to Auckland, New Zealand, with scheduled stops in Bombay (now Mumbai), Kuala Lumpur, Perth, and Melbourne. The flight that night was routine—at first.

The aircraft, with registration G-BDXH, departed Kuala Lumpur just before midnight local time. On board were 247 passengers and 16 crew members. Captain Eric Moody was in command, accompanied by First Officer Roger Greaves and Senior Engineer Officer Barry Townley-Freeman.

A strange sight at 37,000 feet

Cruising at 37,000 feet over the Indian Ocean south of Java, the crew noticed an unusual visual phenomenon. The windscreen appeared to be lit by a strange, white, starlike glow. Soon after, passengers observed flashes outside the windows, resembling fireworks.

Unknown to the crew, the aircraft had unknowingly entered a cloud of volcanic ash, released hours earlier by the eruption of Mount Galunggung, about 110 miles southeast of Jakarta. Volcanic ash is invisible to weather radar and can cause significant damage to jet engines and airframes.

Catastrophic engine failure

Without warning, engine number four surged and failed. Moments later, engines two, three, and one all flamed out. The 747 was now a powerless glider descending rapidly.

Captain Moody made the now-famous announcement to the cabin:
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem. All four engines have stopped. We are doing our utmost to get them going. I trust you are not in too much distress.”

It was a masterclass in calm under pressure. Meanwhile, the crew began emergency procedures, attempting restart after restart, while preparing to ditch the aircraft into the Indian Ocean if necessary.

A desperate descent through volcanic ash

As the 747 glided towards lower altitude, oxygen masks were deployed. At this point, visibility through the windscreen was severely reduced due to abrasion from the ash.

Descending to around 12,000 feet, the crew finally emerged beneath the ash cloud. Miraculously, one engine restarted—followed soon by the other three. Now regaining power and altitude, the crew headed for Jakarta’s Halim Perdanakusuma Airport.

A perilous landing

Although engines were running, the plane was still in danger. The cockpit windscreens were nearly opaque, forcing the pilots to rely on side windows and instruments for the approach. Additionally, ash damage had left the engines prone to surge.

Despite these severe limitations, Captain Moody and his crew executed a successful landing at Halim, saving all 263 lives aboard. Emergency services inspected the aircraft, revealing extensive ash damage to the engines, fuselage, and cockpit windows.

The legacy of Captain Moody’s leadership

The successful outcome of Flight 9 was attributed to the crew’s exceptional professionalism, training, and calm demeanour, particularly that of Captain Eric Moody. His composed communication and decisive actions under extreme pressure remain a case study in aviation circles.

The incident led to major changes in flight operations near volcanic regions, with improved tracking of volcanic ash clouds and better crew awareness of the risks.

Captain Moody’s actions in 1982 remain an enduring example of leadership and courage. Thanks to him and his crew, what could have been one of the worst air disasters in history became a testament to human resilience and skill.