United Airlines Plane Catches Fire Before Takeoff in Houston, Texas
Passengers aboard United Airlines Flight 1382, departing from Houston, Texas, experienced moments of panic when the aircraft caught fire before takeoff.
Just days after deadly air accidents in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, another aviation incident occurred at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the departure of United Airlines Flight 1382, bound for New York, had to be halted due to a “reported engine problem.” The incident took place around 8:35 a.m. (local time) on Sunday, February 2.
Videos circulating on social media show that passengers were prepared for takeoff when the plane’s wing caught fire. In one video, a flight attendant can be heard asking passengers to remain in their seats, to which one person responds, “No, it’s on fire.”
Passengers were evacuated using the emergency slide. The Houston Fire Department’s assistance was not required, and no injuries were reported. The flight had 104 passengers on board, along with five crew members. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the incident.
“[The crew] finally made us go down the emergency slide at the rear [of the plane] when they realized we weren’t going to stay in our seats much longer. Then, we ended up stuck on the tarmac for about two and a half hours. Eventually, they brought a bunch of shuttles, ambulances, and police arrived,” passenger Ashlyn Sharp told FOX News.
Two Fatal Accidents in Less Than a Week
The Texas incident comes just days after two deadly accidents in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. A collision between a commercial flight and a military helicopter in the nation’s capital claimed the lives of 67 people, while an air ambulance crash in Philadelphia resulted in seven fatalities and 22 injuries.