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British Airways plane catches fire at Las Vegas airport British Airways plane catches fire at Las Vegas airport
(35 minutes later)
A British Airways jet has caught fire at Las Vegas airport, sending smoke billowing into the air. A British Airways jet has caught fire at Las Vegas airport, sending smoke billowing into the air, after suffering what the pilot described as a “catastrophic failure” of the left engine.
The plane – a Boeing 777 – could be seen with flames around its fuselage.The plane – a Boeing 777 – could be seen with flames around its fuselage.
There were 159 passengers and 13 crew on board. Two people were treated for minor injuries as a result of the fire, which involved a flight that was due to fly from the US city’s McCarran airport to Gatwick. The blaze was quickly put out by emergency services. There were 159 passengers and 13 crew on board. Two people were treated for minor injuries as a result of the fire, which involved a flight that was due to fly from the US city’s McCarran airport to Gatwick. The blaze was quickly put out by around 50 firefighters.
The plane’s take-off had been aborted shortly before the fire broke out. The Federal Aviation Administration said the Boeing’s 777 left engine burst into flames. Passegers were evacuated via inflatable slides.The plane’s take-off had been aborted shortly before the fire broke out. The Federal Aviation Administration said the Boeing’s 777 left engine burst into flames. Passegers were evacuated via inflatable slides.
Dramatic images of flight 2276 were shared on social media by members of the public at the airport, which is five miles south of downtown Las Vegas. Dramatic images of flight BA2276 were shared on social media by members of the public at the airport, which is five miles south of downtown Las Vegas.
Guardian reporter Jacob Steinberg was on the plane and tweeted about the evacuation: “Just evacuated on a British Airways flight at Las Vegas airport after an engine caught fire. Don’t think anyone hurt.Guardian reporter Jacob Steinberg was on the plane and tweeted about the evacuation: “Just evacuated on a British Airways flight at Las Vegas airport after an engine caught fire. Don’t think anyone hurt.
“Was asleep as the plane took off. Came to a crashing halt. Smell of smoke. Initially told to stay seated, then shout of evacuate.“Was asleep as the plane took off. Came to a crashing halt. Smell of smoke. Initially told to stay seated, then shout of evacuate.
“Could smell and see smoke but was on other side of plane. One person said fire melted a couple of windows.“Could smell and see smoke but was on other side of plane. One person said fire melted a couple of windows.
“They opened the back door and slide went down and smoke started coming in plane, followed by mad dash to front. A lot of panic.”“They opened the back door and slide went down and smoke started coming in plane, followed by mad dash to front. A lot of panic.”
Steinberg reported that the pilot came to talk to the evacuated passengers in the airport building, and was met by applause. The pilot told them the fire had been the result of a “catastrophic failure of the engine”.
View from Gate - British Airways 777 jet in flames, aircraft believed to be G-VIIO #britishairways pic @K8DeMaria pic.twitter.com/d1jq94DqYgView from Gate - British Airways 777 jet in flames, aircraft believed to be G-VIIO #britishairways pic @K8DeMaria pic.twitter.com/d1jq94DqYg
Airport authorities said one runway had been put out of service, but other flights were operating as normal. Some flights would be subject to delays. McCarran airport said the first call alerting it to the emergency had come at 4.13pm local time (7.13pm EDT/11.13pm GMT/9.13am AEST), and flames were spotted one minute later. The fire was extiguished and all passengers evacuated by 4.18pm.
The aircraft model was identified as a 275-seat B777-200, a long-range twin jet which operates on longhaul routes for BA, which is one of the world’s largest operators of the type. Airport authorities said one runway had been put out of service, but other flights were operating as normal from the three other runways. Some flights would be subject to delays, they said.
The aircraft model was identified as a 275-seat B777-200, a long-range twin jet which operates on longhaul routes for BA, one of the world’s largest operators of the type.
In March 2014, a British Airways plane heading to Lyon, France, was forced to turn back to London Heathrow after flames were seen “spitting” from the engine of the Airbus A319. The previous year another A319, destined for Oslo, was also forced to return to Heathrow with smoke pouring from an engine.
A report into the London-Oslo incident found that staff “compromised by fatigue” had left unlatched the covers of the Airbus engine, the fan cowls, during maintenance.