No Injuries Reported In Taxi Accident On Board The Airplane, Four In Building Hurt

A British Airways 747 taxiing for takeoff from Johannesburg's OR Tambo airport to London Sunday night veered off the taxiway and sliced into a two-story brick building with its right wing.

The U.K. newspaper The Daily Mail reports that everyone on board the airplane was evacuated safely, and the passengers were accommodated in hotels in Johannesburg. Four people in the building were injured by debris. The extent of their injuries was not reported.

In a statement, the South African Civil Aviation Authority's (SACAA) said that "the air crew got instructions from the Air Traffic Control to taxi using taxi way B. The crew continued onto taxi way M which is narrower resulting in the aircraft impacting on an office building behind the SAA Technical hangers."

Fuel reportedly spilled from the airplane, but it was contained by airport fire services and no fire was reported. The SACAA has recovered the cockpit voice and data recorders from the aircraft, and is reviewing that information.

British Airways said in a statement "We have launched a full investigation into the incident and are giving our assistance to the independent South African Civil Aviation Authority with the matter."

(British Airways 747 pictured in file photo)

FMI: www.caa.co.za