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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Heathrow Airport runways closed after plane 'fire' | Heathrow Airport runways closed after plane 'fire' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A British Airways (BA) plane had to return to Heathrow Airport to make an emergency landing after black smoke was seen coming from an engine. | |
| Both runways were closed as passengers and crew were evacuated from the plane down emergency chutes. | Both runways were closed as passengers and crew were evacuated from the plane down emergency chutes. |
| BA said the Heathrow to Oslo service turned back after a technical fault at about 09:00 BST. Witnesses reported seeing flames coming from the engine. | BA said the Heathrow to Oslo service turned back after a technical fault at about 09:00 BST. Witnesses reported seeing flames coming from the engine. |
| Both the southern and northern runways have since reopened. | Both the southern and northern runways have since reopened. |
| Passengers were evacuated down chutes from the aircraft with emergency services standing by. | Passengers were evacuated down chutes from the aircraft with emergency services standing by. |
| London Ambulance Service said three people had been treated for minor injuries. | London Ambulance Service said three people had been treated for minor injuries. |
| BA said the Airbus A319 was carrying 75 passengers - who were safely evacuated - and a "full investigation" would be conducted into the incident. | BA said the Airbus A319 was carrying 75 passengers - who were safely evacuated - and a "full investigation" would be conducted into the incident. |
| The Metropolitan Police attended the emergency and tweeted: "Police at Heathrow assisted in the response to the emergency landing. It is not being treated as a terrorist incident at this time." | The Metropolitan Police attended the emergency and tweeted: "Police at Heathrow assisted in the response to the emergency landing. It is not being treated as a terrorist incident at this time." |
| Witness John Coghlan told the BBC he saw a "black smoke trail" from the engine of a British Airways Airbus A319. | Witness John Coghlan told the BBC he saw a "black smoke trail" from the engine of a British Airways Airbus A319. |
| He said: "[It was a] safe landing and passengers evacuated by chutes on runway." | He said: "[It was a] safe landing and passengers evacuated by chutes on runway." |
| Jez Stamp, from Farnham in Surrey, who was on a plane waiting to take off to Jordan, said: "I could see smoke on the right engine. | Jez Stamp, from Farnham in Surrey, who was on a plane waiting to take off to Jordan, said: "I could see smoke on the right engine. |
| "We just saw it come to a halt and fire engines were already there waiting for it and they immediately started hosing the plane down." | "We just saw it come to a halt and fire engines were already there waiting for it and they immediately started hosing the plane down." |
| Earlier, London Fire Brigade tweeted: "One crew from Heathrow fire station is assisting Heathrow Airport's fire service with an aircraft fire. | Earlier, London Fire Brigade tweeted: "One crew from Heathrow fire station is assisting Heathrow Airport's fire service with an aircraft fire. |
| "We believe the fire is now out." | "We believe the fire is now out." |
| Rob Brownell, 33, saw the plane from Imperial Wharf Station in central London and told the BBC flames were "clearly visible". | Rob Brownell, 33, saw the plane from Imperial Wharf Station in central London and told the BBC flames were "clearly visible". |
| He said: "There was this almighty rumbling overhead - I looked up and saw the plane on fire. There were flames coming not just from the engine but lapping the wing. | He said: "There was this almighty rumbling overhead - I looked up and saw the plane on fire. There were flames coming not just from the engine but lapping the wing. |
| "My initial thought was 'my God this thing is going to blow up'. The wings are full of fuel so I couldn't see how there could not be an explosion. | |
| "It left a black smoke trail in the sky and there was a smell of aviation fuel afterwards." | |
| According to the website planefinder.net, the plane turned over Potter's Bar and Billericay before returning to Heathrow. | According to the website planefinder.net, the plane turned over Potter's Bar and Billericay before returning to Heathrow. |
| Captain Mark Searle, chairman of the British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA) said: "This was a professional job done by professional people. | |
| "As pilots we spend our whole career training to manage incidents such as this in order to avoid an incident becoming a disaster. | "As pilots we spend our whole career training to manage incidents such as this in order to avoid an incident becoming a disaster. |
| "BALPA representatives will be assisting the pilots involved in this incident and providing whatever support they need." | "BALPA representatives will be assisting the pilots involved in this incident and providing whatever support they need." |
| The airport said 23 flights had been diverted as a result of the incident and advised travellers to contact their airlines to see if their flight has been affected. | |
| It said passengers should expect delays of up to 60 minutes and extended aircraft taxiing times. | |
| The incident is being investigated by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch. |