Initial findings of a report on the fire on a British Airways plane in Las Vegas earlier this week suggests engine parts flew out and landed on the runway.
According to the US’s National Transportation Safety Board, there were ‘multiple breaches’ of the engine case in the area around the high pressure compressor.
It said examination of the material recovered from runway found several pieces of the high pressure compressor spool, around 7-8 inches in length.
"Initial examination of the airplane by NTSB revealed that the left engine and pylon, left fuselage structure and inboard left wing airplane were substantially damaged by the fire," said the report.
"This damage will be documented over the next several days."
Dr Colin Brown from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers told the BBC a ‘fatigue crack’ was most likely the cause of the broken high-pressure compressor spool.
He said if the part is found to be relatively new and recently checked, this could ultimately ground aircraft with similar engines while they are checked for possible problems.
If an engine breaks, the casing is supposed to prevent any metal parts flying out and damaging the rest of the aircraft.
Flight 2276, a Boeing 777 bound for London Gatwick, caught fire on the tarmac at McCarran International Airport on Tuesday with 157 passengers, including one infant, and 13 crew on board.
Data from the flight data recorder, cockpit voice recorder and quick access recorder are now being downloaded and the engine is being shipped for close examination by experts.
