Thomas Cook passengers evacuated from plane due to smoke in the cabin

The Thomas Cook flight was due to take off from Hurghada

The plane was evacuated on Tuesday night (Getty Images)

Holidaymakers were evacuated from a UK-bound flight in Egypt after crew reported smelling burning and smoke was spotted in the cabin just before take-off.

Emergency slides were deployed from the Thomas Cook flight from Hurghada on the Red Sea to London Gatwick, at around 11.30pm on Tuesday.

It is understood one passenger was taken to hospital with a suspected shoulder injury following the flight's evacuation, and two others were treated at the airport clinic - one for a minor injury and the other due to a pre-existing condition.

Thomas Cook said it was a “controlled” evacuation of the 251 passengers and nine crew members from the aircraft.

A spokesman for the travel company said: “Flight MT519 to London Gatwick carried out a controlled evacuation before take-off at Hurghada airport after the crew reported a smell of burning and smoke at the rear of the cabin.

”All 251 passengers and 9 crew members evacuated the aircraft using the emergency slides and were transported back to the terminal building.

“Our customers' safety is always our top priority and we are very sorry for the delay.”

Last week, two German tourists were killed and four others wounded in a knife attack at Hurghada.