The pilot of a British Airways plane which caught fire at a Las Vegas airport, forcing the evacuation of 170 people on board on emergency slides, has told NBC he is “finished flying”.
Chris Henkey, from Reading, said he was “unlikely” to make a trip to Barbados, after which he was due to retire. His fiancee said she was “very shocked”, but praised him as a “hero”.
Officials in the United States said the left engine of the Boeing 777-200 caught fire before take-off. At least 14 people were taken to hospital with minor injuries after the incident on a runway at McCarran International Airport.
Describing the incident, Mr Henkey told NBC: “There was a loud bang and the aircraft sort of veered to the left. Because we had a third pilot he actually opened the door and went down into the cabin, saw how serious it was.”
He told the network he had been due to fly to Barbados on Saturday and return the following Tuesday “and that would be it.” But he reportedly added: “It’s safe to say I’m finished flying.”
