Miami – British Airways blamed poor lighting at Miami International Airport for a commercial jet overshooting a runway with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his family aboard, but airport and federal officials said Wednesday that the lights were fine.
British Airways Flight 209 from London hit some airfield lights after it landed around 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, but it did not leave the pavement and it reached the gate under its own power, airport officials said. No injuries were reported.
British Airways spokesman John Lampl said the pilot stopped the 747 at the end of the runway because he couldn’t see the lights to the taxiway. “Apparently they’re doing some resurfacing work and relighting, so the lighting was poor,” he said.
But airport spokeswoman Lauren Stover said the lights were working fine.
National Transportation Safety Board investigators also found the lights were working properly and there was no construction, said NTSB spokesman Jeff Kennedy. Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen, too, confirmed the lights were working. She said the plane stopped just past the official end of the runway.
Bergen said the FAA would review all aspects of the landing, including how the aircraft was being operated, and the NTSB also was investigating.
Blair and his family were among the 343 passengers on the plane, U.S. Secret Service spokeswoman Kim Bruce said. The British prime minister does not have an allocated plane, and Blair usually flies by chartered jet on official business and by scheduled flight for vacations.
