FAA lifts ground stop for airports including Phoenix after aircraft fire

The Federal Aviation Administration has lifted a ground stop for some airports including Phoenix Sky Harbor after a British Airways jet caught fire at McCarran International Airport.

UPDATE 6:34 PM — @FAANews has lifted ground stop for flights headed to @LASairport, though some departing flights may be slowed locally.

— McCarran Airport (@LASairport) September 9, 2015

A ground stop is an air traffic control that can halt airplanes departing for a particular airport or destination, in this case Las Vegas.

UPDATE 5:35 PM — FAA has issued ground stop for some airports; check status if travel plans include SFO; SJC; PHX; SLC; DEN; ABQ or BOI.

— McCarran Airport (@LASairport) September 9, 2015

An engine caught fire while the plane was preparing to take off from Las Vegas, shooting flames from the side of the jumbo jet and forcing passengers to escape on emergency slides. Billowing black smoke and orange flames could be seen pouring from under the plane’s wings before about 50 firefighters doused the aircraft.

The 159 passengers and 13 crew members on board got off the plane, McCarran International Airport spokesman Chris Jones said. The airport reported on its official Twitter account that two passengers were taken to a hospital for minor injuries.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said the plane’s left engine caught fire. Clark County Deputy Fire Chief Jon Klassen said the cause of the fire wasn’t clear yet but the fire didn’t appear to breach the cabin.

One of the airport’s runways was shut down, but operations continued on the other three runways, officials said.

The Boeing 777-200 was bound for Gatwick Airport near London.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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