24 Dec 2013

Plane wing clips building

10:44 am on 24 December 2013

A plane carrying more than 200 people has struck an office building while preparing to take off from the South African city of Johannesburg.

The British Airways flight to London was taxiing at Tambo International Airport when its right wing hit the building and became wedged in it.

South Africa's Civil Aviation Authority said the Boeing 747 had travelled down a taxi-way that was too narrow for it.

The incident involving the Boeing 747-400 happened late on Sunday, the BBC reports.

Aviation authority spokeswoman Phindiwe Gwebu said the control tower told the plane to take one taxi-way and it took another one.

None of those on board was hurt but four ground staff in the building sustained slight injuries.

The wing of the British Airways plane hit an office building.

The wing of the British Airways plane hit an office building. Photo: AFP / Sean Durkan