A United Airlines flight from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) was forced to abort takeoff after one of the aircraft’s engines caught fire.
The incident occurred on May 27, 2024.
Flight UA 2091 was about to take off for Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA), when smoke came out from the A320 (with registration N432UA) aircraft’s left engine ((International Aero Engines IAE V2527-A5).
Video footage shot from inside the aircraft by one of the flight’s passengers showed thick, dark smoke coming from the left wing as the aircraft moved along the tarmac.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the flames were reported at around 14:00 local time, while the aircraft was still on the taxiway.
Takeoff was then aborted, and the aircraft was towed back to the gate.
The FAA temporarily halted arrivals into the Chicago airport until regular operations were resumed at 14:45 local time.
All 148 passengers and five crew members were safe, and no injuries were reported.
In a statement seen by a number of US media outlets, United said that all passengers were placed on alternative flights to Seattle and the disruption was minimal. The airline also said that fire department vehicles and medical personnel met the aircraft out of abundance of caution.