France to Spain flight catches fire

An engine of an Airbus 320 preparing to carry 175 people from France to Spain caught fire before takeoff Wednesday, and seven passengers were slightly injured, airport and police officials said.

The passengers were injured as they tried to exit the plane down the emergency slides at Paris' Orly airport south of the French capital, Helene Courcoul, chief of staff at the Val de Marne prefecture, told The Associated Press.

The incident occurred about 10:35 a.m. aboard a plane operated by the low-cost carrier Vueling that was on its way from Paris to Alicante in southeastern Spain. The aircraft went into reverse to disengage from the boarding ramp when one of the engines caught fire for unknown reasons, Courcoul said.

Seven people were slightly injured with as they tried to slide down the emergency toboggans, she said. They were treated by Orly airport medical personnel.

Firemen rushed to the scene and quickly put out the blaze. The 169 passengers and six crew were evacuated.

There was no damage to airport facilities or to other nearby aircraft.

Airbus said it would have no comment for the time being.