LONDON , England ( CNN ) -- Air crash investigators are trying to work out why a Boeing 777 landed short of the runway at London Heathrow airport , skidding on grass and ripping apart sections of the aircraft . I-Reporter Alex Quinonez took this image of a casualty being taken by medics from Heathrow Airport . An investigator who has been briefed on the incident told CNN the plane 's captain `` is claiming there was n't power when he needed it . '' Passenger Paul Venter told the UK Press Association : `` The wheels came out and went for touchdown , and the next moment we just dropped . I could n't tell you how far . '' London ambulance services said 17 people suffered minor injuries , and the number could increase as several others are still being assessed . Images showed the Boeing 777 -- BA flight 38 from Beijing , China -- grounded on tarmac after touching down several hundred meters short of the airport 's south runway , close to a perimeter road , with its emergency chutes deployed and white fire-fighting foam covering the engines . The undercarriage , left wing and left engine of the aircraft were severely damaged , as if it had skidded across the ground . At least one of the plane 's wheels had been torn off . The most visible damage was to the left wing , which was covered in mangled metal where it meets the fuselage . Tire tracks hundreds of meters long could be seen in the grass behind the plane , which was surrounded by fire engines and other emergency vehicles . Eyewitness Neil Jones said the plane had made a `` very , very unusual approach '' to the airport and sounded louder than usual , PA reported . `` You could see the pilot was desperate , trying to get the plane down . The aircraft hit the grass and there was a lot of dirt . The pilot was struggling to keep the plane straight . I think he did a great job . '' Read passenger and eyewitness accounts of the crash landing . The BBC said an unidentified Heathrow worker told the broadcaster that he had spoken to the pilot . The pilot said , according to the worker , that the plane 's electronics had failed and that he was forced to glide it to the ground . The UK Air Accident Investigation Branch will lead the inquiry into the crash landing . A team from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is also heading to London , accompanied by representatives from Boeing and the Federal Aviation Adminsitration . Jerome Ensinck , a passenger aboard the flight , said there had been no indication that the plane was making an emergency landing . `` There was no indication that we were going to have a bad landing , '' he said . `` When we hit the ground it was extremely rough , but I 've had rough landings before and I thought 'This is the roughest I 've had . ' `` Then the emergency exits were opened and we were all told we should go through as quickly as possible , and the moment I was away from the plane I started to realize that the undercarriage was away , and we had missed the runway . `` I feel lucky at the moment , but I think now I realize I 've had a close call . If we had hit the runway , it would have been worse . '' In a statement , British Airways said all 136 passengers and 16 crew members had been evacuated from the plane with six minor injuries taken to hospital . BA chief executive Willie Walsh praised the actions of the crew . `` We are very proud of the way our crew safely evacuated all 136 passengers on board , '' Walsh said in a statement . `` The captain of the aircraft is one of our most experienced and has been flying with us for nearly 20 years , '' he added . Walsh also said that an investigation was being conducted by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch and that it would be inappropriate to speculate about likely causes . Airport authorities said Heathrow 's southern runway had been closed , but the northern runway remained open . But the incident immediately led to major delays for passengers . Some incoming flights were being diverted to other airports on a flight-by-flight basis , according to Heathrow 's Web site . A spokesman for London 's Metropolitan Police said there was nothing to suggest the incident was terror-related . The Boeing 777 is the mainstay of many airlines ' long-haul fleets and has never been involved in a fatal accident . However , the aircraft involved in Thursday 's incident appeared to have had a fortunate escape , having approached Heathrow over heavily-populated west London suburbs before its crash landing . CNN 's Richard Quest , who covers the airline industry , said it appeared the damage happened after the plane touched down . The incident occurred at 12:42 p.m. ( 7:42 a.m . ET ) as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was due to leave Heathrow for a visit to China and India . His flight was delayed but his jet was not directly involved , PA said . • British Airways has set up helpline numbers for friends and relatives concerned for passengers involved in the incident : . From within UK : 0800 389 4193 . From outside UK : +44 191 211 3690 E-mail to a friend .
Beijing to London jet lands short of runway at Heathrow Airport . NEW : Investigator says pilot talked of not having power . Passenger : We just dropped . Pilot : 136 passengers evacuated from plane ; 17 minor injuries reported .