Pilot of British Airways engine-fire jet has 'finished flying'

Image
Press Trust of India London
Last Updated : Sep 10 2015 | 6:57 PM IST
The British Airways captain applauded by passengers for averting a potential disaster after a jet engine burst into flames at Las Vegas airport says he has "finished flying".
Chris Henkey, who has four decades of flying experience with BA, was on his second-last flight from Las Vegas to London Gatwick yesterday when a fire broke out on the runway before takeoff and he was forced to evacuate 157 passengers and 13 crew.
"I was supposed to go to Barbados on Saturday and come back next Tuesday and that would be it," 63-year-old Henkey said.
"It's safe to say I'm finished flying," he told NBC News.
His fiancee, 40-year-old Lenka Nevolna, said she was "very shocked", but praised him as a "hero".
"He's a great man with a warm heart, and generosity, and I'm very proud of him."
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.
Describing the incident, Henkey said: "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."
Henkey was applauded by passengers of Flight 2276 in the terminal building.
"I know the papers are saying now 'he's a hero'," the pilot said. "[But] we have to remember there are two other pilots and cabin crew who all behaved very, very well."
BA said it would not confirm the identity of the captain but said he was "very experienced and has flown with British Airways for 42 years".
In a statement, the airline said the aircraft "experienced a technical issue as it was preparing for take- off".
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Sep 10 2015 | 6:57 PM IST

Next Story