A coroner has told Heathrow Airport to improve safety after a British Airways engineer died in a crash. 

John Coles, 44, died when his van was hit by a truck which was travelling at 40mph on the Terminal 5 runway. 

The collision took place at 6am on February 14, 2018, at an uncontrolled crossing. 

After an inquest held in July 2023 coroner John Furniss issued a prevention of future deaths report urging the airport to take action. 

Mr Furniss said: “The uncontrolled crossing ran between stands 546/547 and 556/557. Once he had entered that crossing he had to proceed and was not permitted to stop. 

“About 20 metres from the end of the uncontrolled crossing (which was 105 metres in length) a Heathrow Airport Ltd HiLux vehicle travelling south along taxiway C at 40 mph or more struck his Kangoo on the passenger side, causing the deceased fatal injuries. 

“The HAL driver of the HiLux had not seen the Deceased’s Kangoo on the crossing. The jury found (and I agree) that an influencing factor in the Hilux driver’s failure to see the Kangoo was background visual interference.” 

Mr Furniss added that while the accident occurred over five years ago “no specific consideration” appears to have been given to the issue of background visual interference. 

He said: “I believe it is necessary to highlight this hazard by way of this report and to obtain your (HAL’s) response.” 

“It is also the case that white-coloured vans driven by British Airways employees may be difficult to see,” Mr Furniss said. 

One witness at the inquest said that side profile lights should be installed on vehicles which may need to use uncontrolled crossing. 

“While this may primarily be a matter for British Airways (and other organisations), Heathrow Airport Ltd has ultimate oversight and has the power at least to recommend consideration of side profile lights,” Mr Furniss said. 

A Heathrow spokesperson said: “We’re deeply saddened by any loss of life at Heathrow and express our profound sympathy to the family and friends of John Coles, as well as support for those colleagues impacted by this tragic accident. 

“We pride ourselves on being an airport whose top priority is the safety and security of our colleagues and passengers, which is why we fully supported the police and the Health and Safety Executive investigation which took place following the incident. 

"We are grateful to the coroner, jury and other interested parties for all their input into the inquest process. We will work with our airport partners to consider the learnings that have come out of this process and update the coroner with our actions.” 

Heathrow Airport Limited must respond to the report by September 18.