Flight Forced to Make Emergency Landing After Mid-Air Blaze
A United Airlines jet was plunged into chaos when a blaze erupted in one of its engines mid-flight, forcing a terrifying emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Smoke and Panic as Plane Turns Back
Witnesses watched in horror as thick smoke billowed from the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The aircraft abruptly turned around in a tense race against time, heading back to LAX after reporting a left engine problem.
On board were 256 passengers and 12 crew members. About 180 shaken passengers were evacuated on the tarmac using emergency slides and airstairs. Some suffered minor injuries during the chaotic escape, including one passenger reportedly cutting a finger, though United Airlines said there were no serious injuries.
Airport Grounded Amid Emergency
The incident sent shockwaves through the busy airport, causing a temporary grounding of flights. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an emergency ground stop on arrivals to LAX from major hubs such as Denver, Salt Lake City, and Oakland.
This halt lasted from 11:15am to 12:30pm local time, with delays and aircraft held mid-air for up to 30 minutes. Emergency crews swarmed the jet on the taxiway after its safe touchdown at around 11:20am.
Investigation Underway
The plane had been en route to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey before the drama unfolded. The FAA has launched a formal investigation into the engine fire as United works to get its stranded passengers on their way.
United Airlines spokesperson: “The flight safely returned to Los Angeles to address an issue with one of the engines.”
Thanks to quick action and emergency protocols, catastrophe was narrowly avoided in this mid-air drama that brought one of America’s busiest airports to a standstill.
