A plane packed with passengers has burst into flames on a Las Vegas runway just moments before it was set to take off.
The British Airways flight bound for London Gatwick was taxiing on the tarmac at McCarran Airport on Tuesday night when it suddenly caught fire after a catastrophic engine failure.
Terrified travelers on other flights captured the plumes of smoke coming from the Boeing 777 as those on board were forced to jump down inflatable slides and run away from the blaze.
Fourteen people were then taken to hospital for treatment – many suffering from suspected smoke inhalation while others were hurt when they evacuated.
There were 159 passengers and 13 crew members on board at the time.
According to preliminary information, the plane experienced a left engine fire on takeoff, said Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration’s Pacific Division.
The pilot is heard calling ‘mayday’ and asking for ‘heavy fire services’ in a recorded transmission from air traffic control.
One runway was shut but flights continued to depart on remaining runways as paramedics treated those caught up in the fire.
Jacob Steinberg, a football and tennis writer who was on the flight, Tweeted: ‘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.’
He added that the pilot then addressed passengers and told them there had been a spectacular engine failure.
As he spoke the crowd in front of him applauded. Some passengers managed to grab their bags as they fled from the cabin. From Daily Mail.