Hero pilot set to land at Yorkshire International Business Convention

THE former British Airways pilot who saved 152 lives when he crash-landed his Boeing 777 at Heathrow Airport two years ago will be telling his dramatic story at this year’s Yorkshire International Business Convention in June.

Peter Burkill had just 35 seconds to plan the emergency landing after his aircraft lost power to both engines just two miles from the runway. He eventually cleared the perimeter fence of the airport by just seven feet before guiding the plane to safety.

Convention chief executive Mike Firth said Peter Burkill’s story is all about leadership and the ability to stay calm in a crisis.

He said: “Let’s face it, you can’t get much more of a test than knowing you have just 35 seconds to avoid a potentially catastrophic crash and I’m sure that Peter’s story will prove an inspiration for the delegates.”

Although an air crash investigation cleared him of any blame and said ice in the fuel system had caused the engines to fail, Peter says his reputation as a pilot was badly damaged by false rumours immediately after the accident.

Peter said: “I had a gagging order from my employer and I wasn’t allowed to speak to the press, although I wanted to.”

Last year he took voluntary redundancy from BA and has now developed a new career talking about his experience and the lessons he has learnt from it. He has also just written a book about the crash with his wife Maria, titled ‘Thirty seconds to Impact’.

Peter joins a list of speakers for the YIBC which includes actor and adventurer Brian Blessed; business woman Michelle Mone who set up one of the most successful lingerie brands in the world; Rene Carayol who is the author of the best-selling business book ‘Corporate Voodoo’ and Brian Kalma who is part of the team at the multi-award winning online retail business, Zappos.com.

The keynote speaker is expected to be announced just after Easter.

All the speakers will be heard by delegates at the convention’s twin sites at the Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate and The Spa at Bridlington on Friday June 11.

For further details visit the website on www.yibc.biz