As it happened: British Airways plane catches fire at Las Vegas airport

The 157 passengers aboard British Airways Flight 2276 were settled into their seats for the 10-hour flight from Las Vegas to London when the aircraft's left side engine caught fire. Those aboard fled down emergency slides and across the tarmac as flames leaped from the British Airways Boeing 777-200 and dark black smoke billowed. "Everyone ran to the windows and people were standing on their chairs, looking out, holding their breath with their hands over their mouths," a passenger named Bugmuncher said. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said the plane's left engine caught fire and an investigation was under way. Fire officials said 14 people were taken to the hospital for minor injuries, most a result of sliding down the inflatable chutes to escape.