[Sky News & BBC News] Both runways at Heathrow airport are reportedly closed as smoke is seen coming from the rear of a plane on the Northern runway.
Heathrow’s Twitter feed reporting the incident just after 9:00: Inmage Airport Informer
Heathrow Airport‘s Twitter feed has reported the following message as recently at 9:09 this morning…..
“Both runways are currently closed. All passengers & crew have been safely evacuated from an aircraft which is on the northern runway.”
Sky News reports that both runways have been closed because of this incident.
UPDATE: 09:38
BBC News are reporting that a British Airways plane is involved. The Southern runway has now re-opened but the Northern Runway is still closed due to the stricken aircraft having deployed its emergency chutes to quickly evacuate the passengers.
Chute deployed after the passenger evacuation: Picture BBC News
Fire tenders in attendance at the side of the stricken airways: Picture BBC News
There is further speculation that the aircraft may have hit a flock of birds on take-off leading to plume of smoke coming out of at least one of the engines.
Plumes of smoke coming out of the engine of the stricken BA aircraft. Picture: BBC News / Dan Bailey
Eyewitnesses report flames coming from a plane as it flew over London to land at Heathrow Airport. Image: Sky News
Sky News & BBC News
24th May, 2013
The Airport Informer 