British Airways 777 Catches Fire Moments Before Takeoff
Joe Cortez September 09, 2015
As many as 20 injured after fire breaks out on a British Airways 777, leaving investigators to figure out what went wrong moments before takeoff.
Three National Transportation Safety Board investigators are trying to figure out what caused a British Airways Boeing 777 to catch fire prior to takeoff Tuesday afternoon. As many as 20 flyers were injured while trying to escape British Airways Flight 2276, scheduled for service from McCarran International Airport (LAS) to Gatwick Airport (LGW).
The incident reportedly began shortly after the aircraft was cleared for takeoff. Pictures posted online from those at LAS show heavy smoke and fire billowing from the Boeing 777, evacuation slides deployed and flyers fleeing the aircraft. Those who were aboard BA 2276 describe hearing a loud explosion prior to seeing flames run up the side of the fuselage.
“I thought, since I’m still alive, it must be just that a tire exploded,” said Letha Dunn. “Because if an engine exploded, I probably wouldn’t be having these thoughts.”
In total, 172 people were aboard the doomed aircraft; 159 of those being passengers. The runway where the incident took place was closed until Midnight Pacific Time while investigators began their search into what went wrong. While there was speculation that a catastrophic failure of one of the GE engines caused the fire, investigators have been quiet less than a day into the investigation. In a statement, British Airways affirmed its support for the passengers affected by this incident.
“Our crew evacuated the aircraft safely and the fire was quickly extinguished by the emergency services at the airport,” the British Airways statement read. “All customers have been provided with hotel accommodation, and our colleagues are helping them with anything further they require.”
If the incident results in hull loss, it would be the fourth Boeing 777 destroyed in three years. In 2013, Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crashed at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) due to pilot error, while in 2014 Malaysia Airlines lost two 777 aircraft. Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 mysteriously disappeared and is believed to have crashed in the Indian Ocean, while Malaysia Airlines Flight 12 was shot down while flying over Ukraine.
[Photos: Twitter, @SuaveCastro & @DL_Somers ; Video: YouTube, Jck Midia]
