Photos: ‘Fire extinguisher failed’ on engine of British Airways jet that burst into flames in Vegas and EXPLODED spraying the cabin with pieces of burning shrapnel

Close up images of British Airways Flight 2276 that caught fire yesterday at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport seem to show how the engine exploded on one side before belching fire towards the cabin

BA has officially blamed the accident on a 'technical fault', but aviation experts said images showing the General Electric GE90 engine has been badly damaged on one side suggested there had been an 'uncontrolled explosion'

The images also show how the flames ripped through the outer shell of the plane and wing in just a few minutes, threatening to burn through into the cabin, which could have proved disastrous for the 170 passengers and crew on board

This picture was posted on Twitter of investigators examining the scene after the fire. The section of the plane under the wing has been completely destroyed in an apparent explosion


The Boeing 777-200 was forced to abort its takeoff when its port engine caught fire forcing the pilot to order the emergency evacuation

While the outer side of the engine appears virtually unharmed, then inside seems to have been torn open, with the metal bent outwards

There is also a clear line of damage between the engine and the fuselage which seems to suggest that fire and debris was thrown from the inner edge of the engine and into the plane

Despite flames and smoke engulfing the plane, some passengers have said today that people stopped to collect their bags before getting off, blocking the aisles and delaying the evacuation

The Boeing 777 jet was departing from McCarran International Airport bound for Gatwick in the UK around midday yesterday when there was a 'loud explosion' as it reached 90mph on takeoff
Passengers hold onto their luggage after fleeing burning plane

Pilot Chris Henkey, 63, who has flown with the airline for more than 40 years, was hailed as a 'hero' today after he managed to stop the aircraft within just nine second of the blaze breaking out, before radioing for help

Firefighters reached the plane within moments of the pilot putting out a mayday call and the flames were extinguished five minutes later, though they still managed to caused extensive damage to the plane

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are en-route to Vegas from Washington DC to probe what went wrong with the aircraft, with a preliminary report expected within a week

The Mail