Passengers wrongly told plane will crash

British Airways has apologised after an automated message was accidentally played on a flight telling passengers that their plane was about to crash.

According to The Sun, the London Heathrow to Hong Kong flight was over the North Sea when the pilot pressed the wrong button. The message told the 275 passengers: "This is an emergency announcement. We may shortly need to make an emergency landing on water."

Cabin crew apparently tried to reassure terrified passengers when they realised the error.

Passenger Michelle Lord said: "People were terrified, we all thought we were going to die. They said the pilot hit the wrong button because they were so close together."

Another traveller added: "I can't think of anything worse than being told your plane's about to crash."

A spokesman for British Airways said: "We apologise to passengers on board the flight for causing them undue distress. Our cabin crew immediately made an announcement following the message advising customers that it was an error and that the flight would continue as normal."

He added that an investigation into the incident has been launched.