UK: Passengers forced to breathe using damp towels over their faces
Smoke filled the cabin of a British Airways jet and passengers were forced to breathe using damp towels after one of its engines caught fire on take-off.
The drama unfolded on a flight from Birmingham to Newcastle on Wednesday and the airline has already launched an investigation. The pilot closed down one engine and diverted the flight to Manchester; the 29 passengers were then taken to their destinations by taxi.
One passenger reportedly told the Daily Express: “There was a thump outside the plane and there were huge amounts of sparks coming out of the right-hand engine, like firework fountains. Flames began shooting around the back of the engine and smoke was coming through the ceiling. I felt numb with fright.”
A BA spokesman said: “The pilot had a fire warning light in the cockpit so he set the engine down as a precaution. These aircraft are designed to fly safely with one engine.”
