Fuel leak forces BA jet into emergency landing

Passengers on a BA flight had to leap to safety down chutes today after it made an emergency landing at Geneva airport.

A fuel leak on the Boeing 757, en route from London to Milan, forced the pilot to divert to Switzerland.

Geneva airport spokesman Philippe Roy said the pilot of the flight BA 572, from Heathrow landed the plane at 1040 BST after spotting the leak.

‘‘All 98 passengers were evacuated by emergency slide,’’ Roy said. ‘‘Fire crews covered the runway with flame-retardant foam to minimise the risk of an explosion.’’

Roy said he did not know when the passengers would be able to continue their journey.