American Airlines flight evacuated at Heathrow as smoke fills cabin

Passengers, including children, were seen evacuting the aircraft via a slide

Passengers have been forced to evacuate an American Airlines flight at Heathrow Airport after smoke filled the cabin.

Eye witnesses reported seeing passengers, including children, escaping the plane down an emergency slide.

Fire crews were dispatched to the scene. A spokesperson for Heathrow Airport said a "technical issue" had occured but the problem was resolved.

Delays had left flight crew out of positions, leading to widespread delays and cancellations (PA)

No one appeared to be injured in the incident.

Ross Hiscock. 28, was on an adjacent plane stationed on the runway when the incident unfolded. He said he spotted smoke coming from the tail-end of the plane.

He said: "I saw a lot of smoke come out from the tail-end of the aircraft. I wondered if it was normal, whether it was just exhaust fumes.

"Then the door opened on the right side of the aircraft and crews deployed slides from the rear and middle of the plane. Next we wondered whether it was a drill, but then we saw they were real passengers. I saw at least one carrying a child.

"It all happened in a matter of seconds. Everyone seemed to be ok."