A United Airlines flight landed safely at Denver International Airport after suffering a right engine failure, the Federal Aviation Administration said, with dramatic images showing debris from the plane scattered on the ground.
Broomfield police shared photos they were sent by residents soon after the incident. Photo: Broomfield police
The Boeing 777-200 plane, with 231 passengers and 10 crew on board, was heading to Honolulu when it suffered the engine failure soon after takeoff, the airline said.
There were no reports of injuries, either on the plane or the ground.
Incredible photos by Hayden Smith of UA328 suffering an engine failure shortly after departing Denver #UA328 #Denver #UAL328 pic.twitter.com/JF89Q8lPua
— Tamas (@tamaskls) February 20, 2021
Images posted by police in Broomfield, Colorado appeared to show plane debris on the ground, including an engine cowling scattered outside a home and what appeared to be other parts on a turf field. Police tape was used to cordon off the debris.
Photo: Broomfield police
One video taken from what appeared to be inside the United plane showed an engine on fire.
Another video on social media showed a cloud of black smoke being left by a plane.
"Something blew up," a man on the video can be heard saying.
In an audio recording, a United pilot could be heard making a mayday call to air traffic control.
Broomfield police urged residents not to touch or move the debris and said the National Transportation Safety Board would be leading an investigation.
If you find debris PLEASE don’t touch it or move it. The @NTSB wants all debris to remain in place for investigation. Thank you.
— Broomfield Police (@BroomfieldPD) February 20, 2021
The 26-year-old 777 was powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines. Investigators will focus on what caused the engine on the plane to fail and will look at whether a fan blade failed.
Photo: Broomfield police
Boeing declined to comment and referred questions to United.
In February 2018, an older Boeing 777 operated by United and bound for Honolulu suffered an engine failure when a cowling fell off about 30 minutes before the plane landed safely.
- BBC / Reuters
