Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 19000; Flight Crew Type 4000
Distraction; Confusion
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Returned To Gate; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
We pushed back and taxied out normally to the runway. When we were about five minutes from departure we started the #1 engine. It started normally. As we took the runway to line up and wait; an aircraft behind us reported over the radio that there were flames coming out of the left engine. About 15 seconds later they said it was getting worse and the tower could now see it so we shut down the left engine and cleared the runway. Preliminary reports were that the fire went out when engine was shut down. The tower controller took it upon himself to roll the trucks before I could even think about...which is a good thing. We ran our checklists and briefed the cabin crew and passengers. The CFR personnel showed up to do a visual inspection. They did a visual inspection on foot and reported absolutely no fire. So we finished up checklists and briefing passengers and crew and returned to the gate. CFR followed us to gate as a safety precaution. Anomaly was written up and we went to the hotel.Never during this event did the engine indications show anything other than completely normal stable operation.
While awaiting takeoff clearance the flight crew was advised that flames appeared to be coming from one of the aircraft's engines. As the flight crew accomplished the appropriate emergency checklists; the Tower initiated an emergency vehicle response. After the fire was confirmed to be extinguished the aircraft returned to the gate.