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. British Airways fire: 'We saw the smoke. The smell was bitter. It was time to panic' Read more The plane – a Boeing 777 heading from the US city's McCarran airport to London Gatwick – could be seen with flames around its fuselage. Fire officials said 14 people were taken to Sunrise hospital to be treated for minor injuries, including cuts and bruises, most a result of sliding down the inflatable chutes to escape. All 157 passengers and 13 crew – including three pilots – on board were evacuated, and the fire was swiftly put out by around 50 firefighters. An airport spokeswoman told reporters: "All passengers were evacuated quickly and safely and taken by bus to the terminal. "We cannot express enough gratitude to the emergency response crews, as well as the British Airways crew." The National Transportation Safety Board was investigating the incident, she added. The plane aborted take-off shortly before the fire broke out. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the Boeing's 777 left engine – manufactured by General Electric – burst into flames. 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. "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. "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". The first sign of a problem came when one of the BA pilots contacted air traffic control shortly after the plane had begun its take-off procedures: "Speedbird 2276 heavy stopping." Fifteen seconds later one of the pilots says: "Speedbird Mayday Mayday. Speedbird 2276 request fire services." Air traffic control responds: "Speedbird 2276, heavy fire services on the way." About 30 seconds later one of the pilots says: "Speedbird 2276 heavy, we are evacuating on the runway. We have a fire, repeat, we are evacuating."
