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BA plane fire: Passengers forced to evacuate after Boeing 777 suffers 'catastrophic engine failure' BA plane fire: Pilot of Flight 2276 Chris Henkey praised as 'absolute hero' for averting disaster
(35 minutes later)
A British Airways plane burst into flames as it was preparing to take off from Las Vegas after suffering a "catastrophic engine failure".  The pilot who averted disaster when British Airways plane burst into flames as it was preparing to take off from Las Vegas has been praised as an "absolute hero".
Flight 2276 to London was consumed by black smoke and fire at McCarran International Airport in Nevada, forcing the emergency evacuation of all 159 passengers and 13 crew. Chris Henkey, who was identified by the Guardian, was applauded by passengers after aborting take-off when the aircraft's engines suffered a "catastrophic failure".
Jacob Steinberg, a Guardian journalist and passenger on the plane, said on Twitter that there was a "mad dash to the front" when the plane stopped. Flight 2276 to London was consumed by black smoke and flames at McCarran International Airport in Nevada, forcing the emergency evacuation of all 159 passengers and 13 crew.
“Was asleep as the plane took off. Came to a crashing halt. Smell of smoke. Initially told to stay seated, then shout of evacuate," he wrote. In an audio recording, a man believed to be Mr Henkey, from Reading in Berkshire, can be heard sending a distress signal to the control tower.
“Could smell and see smoke but was on other side of plane. One person said fire melted a couple of windows. “Mayday, mayday, Speedbird 2276 request fire services," he is heard saying. The woman in the control tower replied: “Heavy fire services on the way.”
“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." Forty seconds later the pilot added: “We are evacuating on the runway. We have a fire. I repeat, we are evacuating.”
He added that the plane's pilot, who was "applauded" by passengers after the incident, told the cabin that he believed the fire was due to "catastrophic engine failure".  Mr Henkey has been flying for 42 years, his ex-wife Marnie told the Guardian.
Passengers and crew members were forced to flee from the aircraft on emergency slides before 50 fire-fighters brought the fire under control. Amazing hearing the ATC from the BA flight on fire this morning https://t.co/gluciT6jPT. So calm! Props to the pilot
Firefighters stationed at the airport reached the plane two minutes after receiving reports of flames. "He did a bloody good job," she added. “I’m just so so pleased he and the crew are OK.”
Within another three minutes everyone inside the plane had escaped. Commentators on Twitter were praising Mr Henkey as an "absolute hero" today, with many expressing admiration at his calm response to the fire.
The airport tweeted: “Received first call at 4:13 PM (23:13 GMT); flames were spotted at 4:14, and by 4:14 response was underway.” "Seriously, someone buy the pilot a Bell's," Richard Holmes wrote. "Cool as a cucumber."
Fire officials said 14 people were taken to Sunrise Hospital for minor injuries, mostly from sliding down the inflatable slides. Terrified passengers described a "mad dash" to escape the burning aircraft as the blaze took hold on Tuesday.
British Airways Flight 2276 engulfed in black smoke Flights were delayed to Las Vegas by The Federal Aviation Administration for more than two hours following the incident. Another passenger Jay Jennings, from Southampton, said the experience was “pretty scary”.
The damaged Boeing 777 made two of the airport’s four runways inaccessible, however one of the runways was able to be reopened two and a half hours after the fire. He told CNN the plane was preparing for take-off when he heard a big thud. When he lifted the window blind he claims he saw “flames on the engine”.
Dominic Worthington, from London, was also on the flight. He wrote on Twitter: “Scary day, captain and crew saved our lives today”. Firefighters enter a plane that caught fire at McCarren International Airport
 
Passengers who witnessed the fire while waiting at the airport gate said there were “bursts of flames coming out of the middle of the plane.”Passengers who witnessed the fire while waiting at the airport gate said there were “bursts of flames coming out of the middle of the plane.”
Others said the passenger’s exit from the plane via the emergency slides was more “orderly” than expected given the dramatic nature of the incident.Others said the passenger’s exit from the plane via the emergency slides was more “orderly” than expected given the dramatic nature of the incident.
Jim McAuslan, general secretary of the British Airline Pilots' Association, praised the calm actions of the pilot and crew and said flight staff "train relentlessly to deal with this kind of rare event."Jim McAuslan, general secretary of the British Airline Pilots' Association, praised the calm actions of the pilot and crew and said flight staff "train relentlessly to deal with this kind of rare event."
"Pilots are trained to prepare for things not going to plan throughout every single flight so that they are able to make split-second decisions and keep passengers safe." A British Airways jet caught fire at Las Vegas' airport, prompting the crew to abort takeoff and evacuate terrified passengers. He added: "Pilots are trained to prepare for things not going to plan throughout every single flight so that they are able to make split-second decisions and keep passengers safe."
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor confirmed the left engine of the twin-engine plane had caught fire. British Airways Flight 2276 engulfed in black smoke Firefighters stationed at the airport reached the plane two minutes after receiving reports of flames and it took more than 50 people to extinguish the blaze.
Clark County Deputy Fire Chief Jon Klassen said the cause of the fire was not yet clear, but the fire did not appear to have breached the cabin.  
Eric Weiss, a spokesman for the agency in Washington said that The National Transportation Safety Board is collecting information about the incident. Officials said 14 people were taken to Sunrise Hospital for minor injuries, mostly from sliding down the inflatable slides.
British Airways spokesman Caroline Titmuss has declined to answer questions about the fire over email but has said that “Safety is always our priority” and that more information would be released later. Flights were delayed to Las Vegas by The Federal Aviation Administration for more than two hours following the incident.
The Boeing 777-200 was bound for Gatwick Airport, near London. The damaged Boeing 777 made two of the airport’s four runways inaccessible, however one of the runways was able to be reopened two and a half hours after the fire.
The Las Vegas airport is the ninth busiest in the US and received nearly 43 million passengers last year.  A British Airways jet caught fire at Las Vegas' airport, prompting the crew to abort takeoff and evacuate terrified passengers. The Federal Aviation Administration has confirmed the left engine of the twin-engine plane had caught fire.
Eric Weiss, a spokesman for the agency in Washington, said the National Transportation Safety Board is collecting information about the incident.
In a statement, British Airways said passengers have been put up in hotels and are being given any assistance they need until they can board another flight to Gatwick.
"Customers who were taken to hospital have all been released following care and treatment," a spokesperson added.
"The National Transportation Safety Board in the US is conducting an investigation into the incident and we will give them our fullest support.
"The safety of our customers and crew are always our top priorities, and all of our other flights are continuing to operate as normal."
 
McCarren International Airport  is the ninth busiest in the US and received nearly 43 million passengers last year. 
Additional reporting by Associated PressAdditional reporting by Associated Press