BA passengers take legal action after fire on Las Vegas runway
Passengers who were injured when a British Airways plane caught fire on the runway in Las Vegas last week are taking legal action to find out what happened.
Law firm Irwin Mitchell has been instructed to investigate the case by several injured passengers.
It is understood that the left engine of the Boeing aircraft suffered a catastrophic failure which caused a serious fire during its take-off roll on its flight to London’s Gatwick.
Clive Garner, head of aviation law at Irwin Mitchell representing the passengers, said: "Some of the passengers have suffered physical injuries and from previous experience we know that such a terrifying incident can also cause psychological injuries to those involved. Many passengers also inhaled fumes produced by the fire which may have been toxic.
"The psychological impact of a life threatening event like this should not be underestimated. Counselling and other relevant support may also be required to help those affected overcome what they have been through. "
An interim report issued by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed ‘multiple breaches’ in the casing of the engine, with parts of it being found on the runway.
Other investigations, including the examination of flight data and cockpit voice recording equipment, are on-going.
Irwin Mitchell is conducting its own investigations into the fire on behalf of those passengers affected.
Jim Morris, a former RAF Boeing pilot and specialist Aviation Law Partner at Irwin Mitchell, said: "The risks associated with this kind of engine failure on an aircraft laden with fuel during take-off cannot be over emphasised.
"As such, it is crucial that the NTSB quickly identify the full chain of events that led to this catastrophic engine failure so that appropriate measures can be implemented to improve flight safety."
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