South Africa: BA Boeing 747-400 Crashes into Johannesburg Airport Building

Four airport staff members were injured as a British Airways plane crashed into a building while preparing to take off from Johannesburg's OR Tambo Airport in South Africa.

However none of the approximately 200 passengers and crew aboard the London-bound Boeing 747-400 were hurt.

British Airways tweeted:

SACAA spokeswoman Phindiwe Gwebu said traffic control had instructed the crew to use another taxi way.

The airport staff members in the building who sustained minor injuries were hit by debris.

Gwebu said fuel spillage was contained by the airport's fire services and the aircraft was later removed.

British Airways said it has launched an investigation into the incident and it is providing assistance to the independent South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) over the crash.

"The investigation continues," said Gwebu.

The plane was due to land at London's Heathrow airport.