London, Aug 27 (IANS) A British Airways (BA) pilot caused a mid-air scare when he pressed a wrong button, triggering an announcement that the aircraft was about to make an emergency landing on water.

The mistake activated an automated female voice that said: 'This is an emergency announcement. We may shortly need to make an emergency landing on water.'

The Sun Friday that there were 275 passengers flying from Heathrow to Hong Kong and they prepared for the worst over the North Sea.

Then cabin crew ran down the aisles and said that it was a mistake.

BA said sorry for the 'undue distress'.

'People were terrified, we all thought we were going to die. They said the pilot hit the wrong button because they were so close together,' Michelle Lord, 32, of Lancs, was quoted as saying.

Another traveller said: 'I can't think of anything worse than being told your plane's about to crash.'