Victim Profile

Personal Details

Additional Information

11 June 2026: Buxton was working inside the fuel tank of a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9 at Heathrow.
He and another technician were investigating a fuel leak.
Both were wearing breathing apparatus because of residual fuel fumes.
A non-combustion explosion occurred inside the tank.
Buxton took the force of the event to his head and torso, suffering catastrophic craniofacial/traumatic brain injuries.
His colleague was able to get him out of the tank and emergency treatment began.
Buxton underwent several operations but died on 7 July 2026 at St Mary's Hospital.
A post-mortem found the cause of death to be traumatic brain injury/craniofacial trauma.

Importantly, the official account now presented at the inquest differs from some of the initial media reports. Early reports described him as being crushed by heavy machinery. The later inquest evidence specifically described a non-combustion explosion inside the fuel tank. The Met and HSE investigation is still ongoing, and the inquest has been suspended while potential criminal proceedings are considered.