A flight from the UK to Spain took off with more than a ton of unexpected weight after a software error classified female passengers using the title "Miss" for children. This led to the flight's load sheet estimating the weight of 38 female passengers as 38 kg or 77 pounds each, the standard weight for children, instead of 69 kg or 152 pounds, the standard weight used for adult females.
The error was classified as a "serious incident" by the UK's Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB), but did not affect the safety of the flight. Despite a discrepancy of 2,743 pounds (1,244 kg) between the expected and actual mass of the aircraft, the thrust used at takeoff by the pilot was only "marginally less" than what was required. "This meant that the safe operation of the aircraft was not compromised," the AAIB concluded.
The error was introduced into the software after the flight operator suspended operations for several months due to COVID-19 restrictions. During this time, it updated its computer systems, but in the country where the software was programmed, the honorific "Miss" is used for children while "Ms" is used for adult females. The error affected two more flights of the same operator that same day, July 21, 2020, before it was corrected.
According to a Press Association report, the flight was operated by the Anglo-German company Tui. In a statement, the company said, "The health and safety of our customers and crew is always our primary concern. Following this isolated incident, we have corrected a fault identified in our computer system. As stated in the report, the safe operation of the flight was not compromised."
Photo: Boris Roessler/picture alliance via Getty Images
The original article, written by James Vincent at The Verge, can be read at: https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/9/22375136/airplane-flight-takes-off-heavier-than-expected-miss-ms-children
