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Passengers have spoken of the “mad dash” and “panic” to evacuate a British Airways plane that caught fire on the runway of a Las Vegas airway on Tuesday evening.
A tense conversation between officials at air traffic control and the captain of the BA2276 flight – which was engulfed by fire on a Las Vegas airport runway yesterday – has been posted online.
In it the pilot can heard asking for assistance for the Gatwick-bound aircraft – referred to as Speedbird.
“Mayday, mayday. Speedbird 2276 request fire services,” he tells air traffic control, who respond immediately to tell him fire services are on the way.
The calm but clearly concerned pilot then adds: “Speedbird 2276 heavy, we are evacuating on the runway. We have a fire, I repeat, we are evacuating.”
British Airways Plane Fire : Flight Catches Alight At Las Vegas Airport Seconds Before Take Off (Video)
Pictures showed fire services racing towards the plane as flames roared in the centre of the aircraft and frantic passengers used inflatable slides to make their emergency evacuation.
Miraculously no one was seriously injured – with 14 people sustaining minor injuries using the emergency chutes.
The left engine of the Boeing 777-200 burst into flames following an apparent engine failure.
It forced the evacuation of 159 passengers and 13 crew.
The flight had been set to take-off from McCarran International Airport shortly after 4pm and was due to touch down in the UK at around 10am today.
Agencies/Canadajournal
