CHICAGO- On Monday afternoon (May 27, 2024), passengers on board United Airlines (UA) Flight UA2091 operated by Airbus A320 bound for Seattle (SEA), experienced a scare as smoke started to pour out near the wing of the aircraft from the engine at O’Hare Airport (ORD) in Chicago.
The incident caused a temporary halt to airport operations, leaving travelers anxious and stranded on a busy Memorial week.
United Engine Fire at Chicago
The United Airlines A320 aircraft was preparing for takeoff when an engine issue caused smoke to be emitted from the plane.
Passengers like Carmen Hernandez, who was on her way home from Nashville, were left in the dark about the situation, with the pilot failing to provide clear information. The smoking plane was quickly towed back to the gate, and passengers were safely deplaned, reported abc7Chicago.
While most holiday travelers faced delays and disruptions due to stormy weather conditions across the country, the incident at ORD added an extra layer of anxiety.
According to Planespotters.net data, the United Airlines flight UA2091 was operated by a 24-year-old Airbus A320-200, registered as N459UA, and is powered by IAE engines.
After engineers and technicians inspected the plane and carried out the required maintenance, the flight took off for Seattle and landed safely with around 6 hours of delay.
Passenger Discomfort
Shavine Rodney, who was returning to Chicago on Monday, described to the news agency the chaos of both her outgoing and incoming flights.
While, some passengers, like Olivia Lackey, expressed relief at finally reaching their destination, despite the challenges faced during the journey.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) had expected a busy travel weekend, screening nearly 3 million passengers nationwide on Friday alone. The influx of travelers, combined with adverse weather conditions, led to a hectic holiday travel experience for many.
As Shavine Rodney pointed out, the unpredictable nature of travel during such times can exacerbate anxiety for nervous flyers.
Similar Incident
Last month, a Southwest Airlines (WN) flight aborted takeoff after an engine fire at Lubbock, Texas.
Southwest disclosed that the pilots were alerted to a potential engine problem, prompting the Boeing 737 to taxi back to the Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport terminal.
The Lubbock fire department stated online that it verified the presence of a fire in one of the two engines, which required extinguishing.
Further, the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that it is conducting an investigation into the incident.
The flight, which had 154 passengers and a crew of six onboard, was bound for Las Vegas, according to Southwest. The airline arranged for a replacement aircraft to be flown in from Dallas to continue the journey later on Thursday evening.
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737-800, which is an older model (NG) compared to the 737 MAX. Its engines are manufactured by CFM International, a partnership between General Electric and France’s Safran SA.
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