Tense Moments In The Skies Over NYC...

A British Airways 747-400 (file photo of type, below) with 300 people onboard made an emergency landing Thursday night at New York's Kennedy International Airport after its number 2 (inboard-left) engine caught fire after takeoff.

According to a transcript of ATC communications with the flight crew of Speedbird 116 Heavy, the tower reported the engine fire 62 seconds after the 747 was cleared to takeoff from runway 31-Left. Witnesses told United Press International the flames were visible from the cabin.

"Everyone was very calm and very reassuring and not a lot of people noticed, but I was scared," said passenger Wayne Audrain, who has on his way home to London when he saw sparks  fly from one of the two left engines.

The airliner circled at least twice as the crews attempted to put the engine fire out. Those on the ground, and pilots in the air, reported flames shooting out of the engine.

"I think that thing's gonna burn off," said a United Airlines pilot who had just landed as the British Airways aircraft took off, according to the ATC transcript.

Shortly before the airliner landed back on 31L, the flight crew was able to release fire-suppressant, and the flames were extinguished. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

**   Report created 12/30/2005   Record 11                                    **

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: BAW116        Make/Model: B747      Description: B-747-400
  Date: 12/30/2005     Time: 0453

  Event Type: Incident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Unknown

LOCATION
  City: NEW YORK   State: NY   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  ACFT RETURNED TO LAND ON RWY 31L AFTER TOWER OBSERVED FLAMES ON LEFT SIDE
  OF ACFT, NEW YORK, NY

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: KJFK 300451Z 30012G19KT 10SM BKN024 BKN070 09/05 A2337

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Business      Phase: Take-off      Operation: Air Carrier

  Departed: JFK-NEW YORK, NY            Dep Date: 12/30/2005   Dep. Time:     
  Destination: EGLL                     Flt Plan:              Wx Briefing: 
  Last Radio Cont: 
  Last Clearance: 

  FAA FSDO: GARDEN CITY, NY  (EA15)               Entry date: 12/30/2005

FMI: www.britishairways.com