More than a dozen people have been hurt after a London-bound British Airways plane caught fire on a runway at a Las Vegas airport.
The left engine of the Boeing 777-200 burst into flames at McCarran International Airport, forcing 159 passengers and 13 crew to evacuate through emergency slides.
The airport said all passengers and crew had made it off the plane safely, while British Airways said the fire was caused by a “technical issue” as the plane was preparing to take-off.
At least 14 people have been treated for minor injuries, according to fire officials who said many were a result of sliding down inflatable escape chutes.
At a press conference, an airport spokeswoman said: “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.
“As facts become available, information will be provided.”
The National Transportation Safety Board would be investigating the incident, the spokeswoman said.
The plane was set to depart for Gatwick when the crew noticed the fire and evacuated all on board.
A British Airways spokesman said: “The safety of our customers and crew is always our priority, and we are looking after those who were on board the BA2276 from Las Vegas to London Gatwick following an incident on Tuesday September 8, 2015.
“The aircraft, a 777-200 experienced a technical issue as it was preparing for take-off from McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.
“Our crew evacuated the aircraft safely and the fire was quickly extinguished by the emergency services at the airport.
“A small number of customers and our crew have been taken to hospital as a precaution.
“All customers have been provided with hotel accommodation, and our colleagues are helping them with anything further they require.”
Jacob Steinberg, a Guardian sports reporter who was on the flight, said the captain told passengers there had been a “catastrophic” engine failure.
He 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: “A few have cuts and bruises from the slide down. They’ve been bandaged up. One young woman was taken away by paramedics, but looked OK.”
The fire on a British Airways plane in Las Vegas is the latest high profile incident involving a Boeing 777 in recent years.
In March last year Malaysia Airlines’ MH370, with 227 passengers and 12 crew aboard, disappeared in the Indian Ocean.
Just four months later the carrier’s flight MH17 was shot down over war-torn Ukraine, with the loss of 298 lives, including 10 Britons.
Three people died when an Asiana Airlines plane crashed during landing at San Francisco Airport in July 2013. Investigators found the crash was due to pilot error.
The Las Vegas blaze has echoes of an incident at Manchester Airport 30 years ago.
Fifty-five people died when a Corfu-bound British Airtours Boeing 737 caught fire as it was speeding down the runway on August 22 1985.
The captain managed to abort take-off and turn off the runway, but the change of direction meant flames spread to the rear of the aircraft.
The disaster led to many safety improvements, including steps to make it easier for passengers to evacuate in the event of an incident.
British Airtours was the charter division of British Airways when the tragedy happened.
The Boeing 777s first entered service in 1994. The twin-engine jets are popular on long-haul commercial routes, partly due to their fuel efficiency.