British Airways Boeing 777-200 jet that dramatically caught fire to be repaired and returned to service

The passenger jet which caught fire at Las Vegas airport just before takeoff last September is to be repaired and returned to service.

The Boeing 777-200, with 172 people on board, was around 20 seconds into its takeoff run and approaching a speed of 90mph when the left engine suddenly burst into flames.

Although a final report into the incident won't be issued for some time, according to an early report into incident, it's believed a fuel leak caused the blaze which saw the engine burn out and even part of the aircraft's hull melt away. 

Shortly after the accident, most assumed the plane would be written off and never fly again, given the visible extent of the damage to the fuselage. However the airline has confirmed the plane will now be fully repaired by Boeing engineers and be made safe in order for it to be returned to service.

Patching up: The British Airways Boeing 777 that aborted a takeoff at McCarran International Airport with 157 passengers and 13 crew members aboard in September will fly again

Fixer-upper: Crews will be dispatched to McCarran to begin work shortly to repair the aircraft's hull to make it airworthy

The Boeing 777-200 was powered by a pair of General Electric GE90-85B engines, one of which, caught fire

A spokesperson from British Airways told MailOnline: 'Safety is always our first priority.

The engine involved in the incident has already been removed by the manufacturer and will be replaced.

The airframe was inspected by a team of highly experienced engineers from Boeing who concluded that the damage was limited and suitable for repair. 

A team from Boeing will carry out the repair work, which will be certified to the same high standards as if the aircraft was brand new.' 

It's not know how long the repairs will take or when the plane will be flown, but the work is expected to begin next month. 

Since the incident, the plane has been sitting on the ground at Las Vegas McCarran Airport at a cost of $375 a day. The bill will total $31,000 by the end of 2015.