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BA evacuates fume-filled US jet British plane in US smoke scare
(about 3 hours later)
Hundreds of people have been evacuated from a British Airways plane in the US after the cabin filled with fumes. More than 300 passengers and crew aboard a British Airways jet at a US airport were evacuated down emergency slides after smoke filled the cabin.
The BA Boeing 747 was due to depart for London Heathrow from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Arizona state. The Boeing 747 had pulled away from the departure gate at Phoenix, Arizona, en route to London Heathrow when passengers began complaining of smoke.
More than 300 passengers and crew used emergency slides to leave the aircraft. No serious injuries were reported. There were shouts of "fire" and some people panicked but none were seriously injured, eyewitnesses told the BBC.
BA said there had been reports of smoke as the plane was pulling away from the departure gate. Engineers are trying to find out what happened. Fire crews found light smoke but no fire and suspect an electrical problem.
The incident occurred at about 2000 local time on Friday (0300 GMT), Shelly Jamison of the Phoenix Fire Department told the Associated Press. I never realised how fast you can go down those emergency slides - a lot of people, including myself, have little friction burns on their elbows Charles Woolf passenger speaking to the BBC class="" href="/2/hi/talking_point/8145941.stm">More eyewitness accounts
She said fire crews found smoke in the cabin and hold, but no fire. The incident occurred at about 2000 local time (0300 GMT) on Friday, said a Phoenix fire official, Capt Shelly Jamison.
One passenger described a scene of panic inside the plane.
There was a lot of pushing and shoving - everyone just wanted to get off the plane Passenger Corinne Casazza
"People were coughing and choking and those with children were very worried and so they brought them to the front where they could breathe," Corinne Casazza was quoted as saying by the Press Association.
"We asked if we could open the doors but were told we couldn't because we were still moving.
"There was a lot of pushing and shoving - everyone just wanted to get off the plane," said Ms Casazza, who is from Sedona, Arizona.
"Then I heard someone yell 'fire' and the doors were opened."
BA said all 298 passengers on board flight BA288 had been safely evacuated. The plane was also carrying 18 crew.
"The plane was being pushed back from the stand when there were reports of smoke," a BA spokesman said.
"A decision was taken to evacuate the aircraft following the usual procedures."
About 15 people received minor scrapes and bruises, and one person was taken to hospital with shoulder pain.About 15 people received minor scrapes and bruises, and one person was taken to hospital with shoulder pain.
Confirming the safe exit of all 298 passengers and 18 crew aboard Flight BA288, British Airways said the aircraft had been evacuated "following the usual procedures".
'Professionalism'
Charles Woolf, 16, was sitting at the rear of the plane, waiting to return home to Fareham in the UK after a holiday.
Everything appeared normal as the plane taxied out, he told BBC News, but after it had been waiting about 10 minutes for take-off, "a strange but harsh smell filled the cabin - it made my nose tingle and burned the back of my throat".
"Some people started to cough, and a few started to worry and panic," he said.
"After about five minutes, more people started to cough, someone towards the front of the aircraft shouted 'fire', the doors of the aircraft opened and the slides were deployed.
"People were pushing a bit to try and get to the exit, but I'd say within 20 seconds of the doors opening I was out of the plane.
"I never realised how fast you can go down those emergency slides - a lot of people, including myself, have little friction burns on their elbows."
The 16-year-old praised the cabin crew's professionalism.