United Airlines plane engine bursts into flames inches from passenger windows

09 March 2024 , 03:42

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The unnerving incident happened about 15 minutes into the two-hour flight on a Boeing 737-900. (Image: No credit)

A United Airlines plane had to make an emergency landing after its engine caught fire shortly after takeoff.

Passengers on the flight from Houston to Fort Myers were terrified as they saw flames shooting out from behind the engine on the left wing, just inches away from the windows. Passenger David Gruninger described the terrifying moment: "I remember there was just this bright flashing light that came through the window and it sounded like a bomb went off," he said. "And then it was just a strobe of fire out the window."

The unnerving incident happened about 15 minutes into the two-hour flight on a Boeing 737-900. Gruninger added: "And then it just turned into chaos. People were screaming and crying and trying to figure out what was going on." The plane, United Airlines Flight 1118, quickly returned to the George H. Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport, where it had taken off from just moments before, reports the Mirror US.

READ MORE: United Airlines plane skids off runway and hangs off tarmac after 'huge pop' during landing

The United plane hangs off tarmac at George Bush Airport after skidding off runway (No credit)

Another passenger, Elliot Trexler, described the plane's movements: "The plane was nosediving and the pilot was bringing the plane back up," he said. "The plane was also rocking back and forth a lot." Thankfully, no one was hurt in the incident.

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United Airlines spoke out about the incident by saying: "United Flight 1118 returned to Houston shortly after takeoff due to an engine issue. The flight landed safely and the passengers deplaned normally. We arranged for a new aircraft to take our customers to their destination, which departed for Fort Myers later that evening."

The problem happened just one day after a tire fell off a United Airlines plane mid-flight and damaged several cars in a car park in San Francisco, forcing the same airline to make another emergency landing.

This happened on Thursday when the passenger plane - a Boeing 777 with 235 passengers and 14 crew on board was heading for Japan from San Francisco International Airport. As the massive aeroplane roared into the sky at around 11.24 am local time, one of its six wheels broke off and fell, as shown in a video clip.

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Terrifying moment wheel falls of United airplane taking off from San Francisco airport and crushes cars parked below (BNO News)

The plane, forced to change its course, headed for LAX International Airport where fire engines had been put on alert. Making a safe landing, the plane stopped about two-thirds along the runway before it was taken away.

The airport's spokesperson, Doug Yakel, confirmed that no one was injured. However, it was found that the loose tyre had fallen onto a staff car park at San Francisco International Airport.

Pictures from the scene showed a silver Toyota Corolla with smashed side and rear windows, and several other cars badly damaged. Luckily, there were no people in the cars at the time.

Mataeo Smith