Engine parts flew out and landed on the runway, suggests an initial report on a British Airways aircraft which caught fire at Las Vegas airport.
Initial examination of the left engine by the US National Transportation Safety Board revealed “multiple breaches” of the engine case.
Examination of the material recovered from the runway found several pieces of the high pressure compressor spool of about 7-8 inches in length, the report said.
The blaze forced all 157 passengers and 13 crew to evacuate the Boeing 777 by emergency chutes.
The fire broke out on Tuesday as the aircraft was about to take off for Gatwick.
The NTSB has recovered the flight data and cockpit voice recorders from the aircraft.
“Initial examination of the airplane by NTSB revealed that the left engine and pylon, left fuselage structure and inboard left wing airplane were substantially damaged by the fire,” the safety body said.
“This damage will be documented over the next several days.”
BA said: “The National Transportation Safety Board in the US is conducting an investigation into the incident and we will give them our fullest support.”