A United Airlines flight was forced to abort takeoff at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Monday afternoon when one of its engines caught fire, sending thick plumes of smoke gushing from one of the wings. The incident occurred on United Flight 2091, an Airbus 320, which was scheduled to fly to Seattle.
The aircraft was on the taxiway preparing for takeoff when the engine burst into flames.
This unexpected malfunction necessitated fast intervention by the flight crew and airport emergency personnel. There were 148 passengers and five crew members on board at the time. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and United Airlines issued separate statements confirming the event.
The plane was brought back to a gate, and passengers were safely evacuated. Ivan Paloalto, a passenger on the flight, captured footage of significant smoke pouring from one of the wings. Paloalto recalled hearing an explosion as the plane approached takeoff. “I felt the hit against my glass. “When I looked, the engine was on fire, and smoke was coming out,” he explained to Storyful.
In response to the fire, the FAA temporarily halted arrivals into O’Hare, one of the busiest airports in the United States, especially during the Memorial Day weekend. Regular operations resumed after sometime, minimizing further disruptions.
