London-bound plane catches fire on tarmac

Emma Manser
Sep 09, 2015, updated Sep 09, 2015

Two people are being treated for injuries after a passenger flight in the US caught on fire on Wednesday morning (AEST).

About 9.30am (AEST), a 275-seat British Airways Boeing 777 allegedly caught fire on the runway of McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.

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The plane, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, was seen with billowing black smoke rising from the body of the craft.

According to McCarran Airport’s Twitter account, all aboard – 159 passengers and 13 crew – made it off the plane and two were treated for “minor injuries”, according to airport authorities.

The aircraft’s left engine caught fire, prompting the crew to abort the takeoff, according to CNN.

One runway was also closed as a result of the fire.

Investigations continue.

Spectacular images of the plane ablaze were posted to social media.

Just landed in Vegas to see this…plane on fire on the Tarmac…people still onboard and running off! pic.twitter.com/ul10hFFw9j

— David L. Somers (@DL_Somers) September 8, 2015