A319 Engine fire at LHR 24/05/13

[RLN]

I'm confused (yes, yes, I know). The smoke in the videos and reports all say it was the right hand engine, but the video and photos taken from inside the plane show the inspection covers open on the left hand engine whilst still in the air. Do these covers open when the fire extinguishers are initiated, and if so, why has the pilot pulled the left hand one? Mistake, precaution, or something happened to that engine, too? I'm hoping someone knows.

[Ipso]

Talk elsewhere of both port and starboard engine covers not being secured properly.

[RLN]

Yep. It looks like the 'plane was in for routine maintenance last night and for some reason the cowlings weren't latched properly. Appears it lost the right engine cowling at rotation and it must have damaged fuel or oil lines, and it lost the left hand cowling as it was returning to LHR. Apparently, BA have said it was a technical incident.

[Lucas1860]

Yep. It looks like the 'plane was in for routine maintenance last night and for some reason the cowlings weren't latched properly. Appears it lost the right engine cowling at rotation and it must have damaged fuel or oil lines, and it lost the left hand cowling as it was returning to LHR. Apparently, BA have said it was a technical incident.

Some incident, no doubt some tech will be on his bike this morning.