BA Emergency

British Airways airplane evacuated at Phoenix International Sky Harbor Airport Friday night due to smoke in its cabin
Hundreds of people used inflatable escape slides to leave the Heathrow-bound Boeing 747 just after it was moved back from the departure gate at Phoenix Sky Harbour International Airport in Arizona, in the United States.

As the plane began to taxi along the runway, fumes filled the cabin and people started "coughing and choking", one passenger said.


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"People were coughing and choking and those with children were very worried and so they brought them to the front where they could breathe.

"We asked if we could open the doors but were told we couldn't because we were still moving.

"There was a lot of pushing and shoving – everyone just wanted to get off the plane.

"Then I heard someone yell 'fire' and the doors were opened."

Ms Casazza, a writer, from Sedona, Arizona, was one of 298 passengers on board who escaped using the emergency slides.

Once on the tarmac, passengers began running away, she said.

"People were distressed on board and they just wanted to get away from the plane," she added.

Ms Casazza, who was on her way to the UK for a 10-day holiday, said she had not seen any flames from where she was sitting, at the front of the cabin.

But she said other passengers had reported seeing a fire towards the back of the jet.

And she said fire fighters at the scene believed the incident could have been caused by an electrical fault.

A 25-year-old American passenger, who did not wish to be named, said the cabin was engulfed by smoke and people had to cover their faces because of the smell.

"It was horrific – it smelt like rubber burning, or something like that," she said.

"It was scary. People were covering their faces but then we were told we were turning around and people calmed down a bit."

The woman, a schoolteacher, who was on her way to London for a two-week holiday, said air staff had handled the situation "really well".

She also said she had heard reports of an electrical fault on board.

British Airways said everyone was evacuated safely from the plane – flight BA288 – which had been preparing to take off at 3.40am UK time.

About 15 passengers received minor cuts and bruises.

A BA spokesman said: "The plane was being pushed back from the stand when there were reports of smoke.

"A decision was taken to evacuate the aircraft following the usual procedures. All 298 passengers were safe."

He added: "Our customer service staff at Phoenix are caring for the passengers and organising hotel rooms for them."

Engineers are now on board the aircraft trying to find out what happened.

British Airways was unable to confirm reports of a fire or an electrical fault on board.