British Airways passengers, crew escape plane fire in Las Vegas

Reuters: A British Airways jetliner engine caught fire in Las Vegas as the plane was about to leave for London on Tuesday (8), forcing the pilots to abort takeoff, but all 172 passengers and crew escaped the smoke and flames that quickly enveloped the aircraft.

Officials at McCarran International Airport said two people suffered minor injuries, and were taken to hospital as a precaution. It was not immediately clear whether they were passengers or crew members.

Video and photographs from the scene showed Flight 2276, a Boeing 777 bound for Gatwick, engulfed in flames and thick black smoke

Passengers were evacuated from the twin-engine, wide-body jet to the runway using emergency slides, officials said.

According to preliminary information, the plane’s left engine burst into flames on takeoff.

The plane was carrying 159 passengers and a crew of 13.