Overview

• Airport managing director Chris Woodroofe highlights the victims’ legacy at the Garden of Remembrance, saying the changes have made flying safer for everyone.
• Investigators concluded an uncontained failure in the left engine hurled debris that punctured a wing fuel access panel and started the fire.
• Most of the 55 fatalities were caused by inhaling highly toxic fumes, including cyanide released from burning interior materials.
• Evacuation shortcomings led to industry-wide reforms such as fire-resistant cabin materials, floor-level lighting, redesigned exit areas, and required exit-row briefings.
• Subsequent incidents, including BA’s 2015 Las Vegas engine fire and JAL’s 2024 Haneda crash, showcased improved survivability linked to those post-Manchester measures.