British Airways Plane on fire at Las Vegas airport - September 8, 2015

'It's safe to say I'm finished flying': Hero BA pilot who saved 157 passengers when jet burst into flames reveals he heard loud explosion and fought to keep plane under control after it suddenly ‘veered to the left’

Hero pilot Chris Henkey is 'finished flying' after saving the lives of 157 passengers when his British Airways jet burst into flames on a Las Vegas runway.

Mr Henkey, 63, spoke of hearing a 'loud bang' and feeling the aircraft lurch to the left as he accelerated down the runway.

The pilot - who had never had a serious incident in a career which spanned more than four decades - slammed on the breaks, bringing the 350 tonne plane to a halt in just nine seconds.

But he still did not know the seriousness of what had happened to the Boeing 777's left engine.

'There was a loud bang and the aircraft sort of veered to the left,' he told NBC news from his hotel room in Las Vegas.

'Because we had a third pilot he opened the door and went down into the cabin and saw how serious it was.'

It was at that moment that Mr Heneky, who had just seconds earlier calmly made a mayday call to the control tower asking for the fire engines to be sent out, decided to evacuate.

Those inside the cabin have described how, on opening the back doors, smoke poured in - meaning they could not use it.

But despite this set back, everyone exited the plane at speed, in what experts say was a 'textbook' evacuation.

In fact, all 170 people had escaped the plane in three minutes.

Mr Henkey's quick actions have earned him praise across the world, but he was keen to pay tribute to his crew.

'I know the papers are saying now he's a hero, but you have to remember there are two other pilots and cabin crew who all behaved very, very well,' he said as he waited to brief those investigating the incident.

His final flight should have been next Tuesday, returning from Barbados after a long weekend with his 26-year-old daughter Charley, who is already in the country.

He was due to fly out on Saturday, but he told NBC on Wednesday afternoon: 'It's safe to say I'm finished flying.'

Speaking yesterday, his family declared he did a 'bloody good job', with his chiropractor daughter Charley, 26, speaking of her 'pride', while long term partner Lenka Nevolna, spoke of her relief.

14 passengers were injured and those on board described their terror after hearing a loud bang and seeing flames engulf the wing before smoke poured into the cabin.

Audio of Mr Henkey's Mayday call reveals how the captain remained calm and collected as he realised a fire had taken hold.

He asked the Las Vegas control tower to send fire engines and told them he was evacuating the British Airways 777, which took just three minutes.

'I'm still in shock about it all but I am very proud of him,' Ms Nevolna said.

'I am so pleased he is alright and just glad that they hadn't gone into the air.'

His daughter Charley said her father is in his final days as a pilot and was planning to join her on holiday in Barbados next week.

She said: 'I was just heading out to dinner with my best friend when I got a text from Dad saying there had been a massive explosion on the plane but that he was OK.

'I couldn't sleep all night, because I was just waiting to get a call from him. I think the most emotional part is that I am just so proud of him.'

'This was supposed to be one of his last flights. I just hope he gets to fly again before he retires so that he ends on a high. He was supposed to be joining me in Barbados on Saturday for the end of the holiday, but I'm not sure now what is going to happen.'

Speaking to the Guardian, his ex-wife Marnie said he would 'always' be a hero in her eyes.

She said: 'He is safe and happy... He did a bloody good job.'

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