A PASSENGER plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Heathrow today with smoke pouring from its engine.
Two runways were closed after the jet had to return soon after take-off due to a "technical fault".The Airbus A319 took off from the London airport at around 8am and was due to fly to Oslo, in Norway.
But amateur footage appeared to show the right engine on fire as it flew over London before the plane landed safely at the busy airport.
A second video taken from inside the cabin showed the left engine with the casing open as the jet made its emergency landing. It is unclear if both engines had faults or just one.
Smoke was still pouring from the stricken aircraft as it sat on one of the runways after passengers were evacuated down emergency chutes.
Fire engines were then seen hosing down the passenger plane.
Heathrow said that all passengers and crew had been safely evacuated from the plane following the incident.
Both runways were reopened by 11am but people travelling from the airport today have been told to expect delays and extending taxiing times.
Eyewitnesses described seeing smoke billowing from the plane, with the right engine on fire.
Emergency landing: Plane 'on fire'
DRAMA in the sky as footage shows smoke coming from aircraft as jet flies above Heathrow airportClive Cook, who lives on the Heathrow flight path, said: “The actual engine itself was on fire.
“This plane was coming over and suddenly the tone of the engine changed dramatically, and I could almost say it sounded as if it was like a blowout, or an explosion.
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“I’m absolutely certain that as it came through the clouds, and I looked up... the right engine was on fire, it wasn’t smoking, it was actually on fire.”
Mr Cook said he saw the plane over the Thames at Battersea as he was taking his daughter to nursery.
Another eyewitness, named only as Jamie, was working in his garden near to Stamford Bridge, Chelsea, when he saw the plane.
Fire ... problem thought to be 'technical fault'
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“You don’t see things like that every day, it’s incredible really.
“Your thoughts are with the people - if we could hear it that badly then what were the people going through on that plane?”
He said he thought the plane was just a few thousand feet above the ground and added: “It was below the clouds at this stage. To see an aircraft on fire - it wasn’t good to watch.”
There was speculation that the aircraft had run into a flock of birds.
Emergency vehicles surrounded the plane and emergency chutes could be seen being deployed.
Emergency Landing: New onboard video
PASSENGER'S footage of British Airways flight making emergency landing at Heathrow airportLondon Fire Brigade said a crew from Heathrow fire station had assisted Heathrow Airport’s fire service with “an aircraft fire”.
“We believe the fire is now out,” it added.
The plane was on Heathrow’s northern runway which remained shut. Later the southern runway reopened.
A BA statement said: “BA762, Heathrow to Oslo service, returned back to Heathrow shortly after take-off due to a technical fault. The Airbus A319 aircraft was carrying 75 customers.
“The aircraft landed safely and emergency slides were deployed and we are currently caring for our customers. Emergency services attended the aircraft. We will be carrying out a full investigation into the incident."
Landed ... jet had to deploy emergency chutes
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BA said it had cancelled all short-haul flights in and out of Heathrow until 4pm today.
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