This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8145686.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| British plane in US smoke scare | British plane in US smoke scare |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| More than 300 passengers and crew aboard a British Airways jet at a US airport were evacuated down emergency slides after smoke filled the cabin. | More than 300 passengers and crew aboard a British Airways jet at a US airport were evacuated down emergency slides after smoke filled the cabin. |
| The Boeing 747 had pulled away from the departure gate at Phoenix, Arizona, en route to London Heathrow when passengers began complaining of smoke. | The Boeing 747 had pulled away from the departure gate at Phoenix, Arizona, en route to London Heathrow when passengers began complaining of smoke. |
| There were shouts of "fire" and some people panicked but none were seriously injured, eyewitnesses told the BBC. | There were shouts of "fire" and some people panicked but none were seriously injured, eyewitnesses told the BBC. |
| Fire crews found light smoke but no fire and suspect an electrical problem. | Fire crews found light smoke but no fire and suspect an electrical problem. |
| I never realised how fast you can go down those emergency slides - a lot of people, including myself, have little friction burns on their elbows Charles Woolf passenger speaking to the BBC More eyewitness accounts | I never realised how fast you can go down those emergency slides - a lot of people, including myself, have little friction burns on their elbows Charles Woolf passenger speaking to the BBC More eyewitness accounts |
| The incident occurred at about 2000 local time (0300 GMT) on Friday, said a Phoenix fire official, Capt Shelly Jamison. | The incident occurred at about 2000 local time (0300 GMT) on Friday, said a Phoenix fire official, Capt Shelly Jamison. |
| About 15 people received minor scrapes and bruises, and one person was taken to hospital with shoulder pain. | About 15 people received minor scrapes and bruises, and one person was taken to hospital with shoulder pain. |
| Confirming the safe exit of all 298 passengers and 18 crew aboard Flight BA288, British Airways said the aircraft had been evacuated "following the usual procedures". | Confirming the safe exit of all 298 passengers and 18 crew aboard Flight BA288, British Airways said the aircraft had been evacuated "following the usual procedures". |
| 'Professionalism' | 'Professionalism' |
| Charles Woolf, 16, was sitting at the rear of the plane, waiting to return home to Fareham in the UK after a holiday. | Charles Woolf, 16, was sitting at the rear of the plane, waiting to return home to Fareham in the UK after a holiday. |
| A passenger filmed the scene after being evacuated down emergency slides | |
| Everything appeared normal as the plane taxied out, he told BBC News, but after it had been waiting about 10 minutes for take-off, "a strange but harsh smell filled the cabin - it made my nose tingle and burned the back of my throat". | Everything appeared normal as the plane taxied out, he told BBC News, but after it had been waiting about 10 minutes for take-off, "a strange but harsh smell filled the cabin - it made my nose tingle and burned the back of my throat". |
| "Some people started to cough, and a few started to worry and panic," he said. | "Some people started to cough, and a few started to worry and panic," he said. |
| "After about five minutes, more people started to cough, someone towards the front of the aircraft shouted 'fire', the doors of the aircraft opened and the slides were deployed. | "After about five minutes, more people started to cough, someone towards the front of the aircraft shouted 'fire', the doors of the aircraft opened and the slides were deployed. |
| "People were pushing a bit to try and get to the exit, but I'd say within 20 seconds of the doors opening I was out of the plane. | "People were pushing a bit to try and get to the exit, but I'd say within 20 seconds of the doors opening I was out of the plane. |
| "I never realised how fast you can go down those emergency slides - a lot of people, including myself, have little friction burns on their elbows." | "I never realised how fast you can go down those emergency slides - a lot of people, including myself, have little friction burns on their elbows." |
| The 16-year-old praised the cabin crew's professionalism. | The 16-year-old praised the cabin crew's professionalism. |