A GLASGOW holidaymaker who was on a flight that caught fire in Las Vegas has told of the “terrifying” moment passengers were forced to make a dramatic escape.

Lynn Alexander, a receptionist with BBC Scotland, was aboard the Boeing 777-200 as it tried to take off.

She said she felt a “bit of a bang” before the aircraft came to a halt.

Ms Alexander, from Glasgow, said passengers could see smoke billowing from the wing, and there was pushing, shoving and screaming as they tried to get to the emergency chute.

More than a dozen people suffered minor injuries after the aircraft caught fire on the runway at McCarran International Airport.

The left engine burst into flames, forcing 159 passengers and 13 crew to evacuate on emergency slides.

The airport said all passengers and crew had made it off the plane, which was bound for Gatwick Airport, and two passengers were initially taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Ms Alexander was on the flight as she returned from a holiday in Las Vegas with her partner.

She said: “I was sitting on the right side of the plane right next to the wing and we saw all of this smoke.

“My partner thought it was a tyre that had blown but I could smell fuel. Everyone on the left side of the plane was screaming, trying to get out of their seats.

“The cabin crew were telling them to remain in their seats, trying to keep everybody calm.”

“The pilot then came over the intercom saying there was to be an emergency evacuation and everyone was to get off the aircraft.”

Ms Alexander said a woman with a young baby was among those caught up in the incident.
She added: “There was a lot of pushing and shoving, screaming, people were terrified and we made it down the emergency chute.

“That was when we saw the left wing - the side that we were all coming out - was where the fire was. The wing was in flames, the smoke was just black.

“At first you just think its going to be fine, its just something that will be sorted, but when you smell the smoke and you see the panic on everyone’s faces, it was quite terrifying.”

In a statement, British Airways said the aircraft “experienced a technical issue as it was preparing for take-off”.