‘People are screaming’: Flight descends into panic after passengers spot flames shooting from engine

‘Most terrifying experience of my life,’ reports passenger

Passengers onboard a United Airlines flight started screaming in panic after what appeared to be flames were seen shooting from one engine.

Flight 1871 was heading to Los Angeles from Newark on 15 January when travellers noticed sparks issuing from the engine just minutes into the flight.

The flight quickly descended into chaos, according to those onboard.

“They’re making announcements but I can’t hear anything b/c people are screaming,” tweeted passenger Nicole Adamo.

“Most terrifying experience of my life.

“Flight delayed two hours for maintenance issues. Flight takes off, right wing of the plane (where I’m sitting in the aisle seat) sparking and now one engine failed.”

Others shared footage of the flames issuing from the jet on social media.

The aircraft was forced to turn back to New Jersey and make an emergency landing.

Fire engines were dispatched to the scene, reported NorthJersey.com.

United attributed the incident to a “mechanical issue” and said all passengers had been rebooked after the flight landed safely.

“United 1871 from Newark, New Jersey to Los Angeles returned to Newark due to a mechanical issue,” a spokesperson told NorthJersey.com. “The flight landed safely and passengers deplaned normally.”

The Independent has contacted United Airlines for further comment.

It’s not the first time flames have been seen coming from an aircraft engine.

In November 2019, a plane had to make an emergency landing when it started spitting flames from its engine shortly after take-off.

One onlooker captured the moment that the Philippine Airlines jet started spewing flames and black smoke from the right-hand plane engine.

Philippine Airlines flight 113 suffered engine failure after taking off from Los Angeles International Airport at 11.38am local time on 21 November.

The flight was aborted before returning safely to the airport 30 minutes later, according to flight tracking site Flight Aware.