Bubble Wrap Cited as United Boeing 737 Engine Fire Cause

Bubble Wrap Cited as United Boeing 737 Engine Fire Cause

BY DANIEL REN Published on March 14, 2024 0 COMMENTS

On Monday, a United Airlines Boeing 737-900 was forced to make an emergency landing shortly after its takeoff from Houston-Intercontinental (IAH) due to the left engine bursting into flames. A passenger videotaped the terrifying incident, showcasing the bright sparks it shot out near passenger windows.

 

The Flight

 

A United Airlines Boeing 737-900 takes off. Photo: AeroXplorer | Richard Rafalski

 

According to data from Flightradar24, flight UA 1118 was a scheduled two-hour flight from Houston to Southwest Florida/Fort Myers (RSW) from 6:40 PM to 9:40 PM. After taking off as scheduled, the pilots ran through a checklist and discovered that the left engine was either surging or stalling as it climbed up to 10,000 feet. 

 



ADVERTISEMENT • REMOVE ALL ADS

 

They clarified their discovery with the IAH approach air traffic controller, mentioning that 167 passengers were on board the aircraft. Once the pilots received permission to enter a holding pattern at 6:52 PM, the plane circled Houston-Intercontinental for about 15 minutes before landing on Runway 27. 

 

Shortly after, pilots received ATC permission to land on Runway 27. The flight touched down at 7:13 PM, just 33 minutes after takeoff. Passengers and flight crew claimed it was a turbulent ride back followed by a harsh landing. The passengers deplaned normally.

 

In a statement, United Airlines stated that they believed the engine ingested bubble wrap causing the fire.

 

Aircraft Replacement

 

In Houston, another United Boeing 737-900 was dispatched to take the affected passengers to Fort Myers. It left Houston at 10:12 PM and landed in Fort Myers at 12:50 AM, a bit over three hours after it was scheduled to land. 

 

A passenger's photo of United Flight 1118



ADVERTISEMENT • REMOVE ALL ADS

 

As for the aircraft that suffered the engine failure, the culprit was an engine surge. According to an Aerotime article, "engine surges occur when there is a breakdown in airflow through the engine's air compressor." The plane was scheduled to return to service on March 6. On that day, it flew passengers between Houston and Orlando (MCO) that day. 

 

Aftermath

 

Besides describing the flight as turbulent, they also noted what the flame looked like. According to passenger David Gruniger's testimony to ABC News, he "remember[s] there was just this bright, flashing light that came through the window." Additionally, he claimed it "sounded like a bomb went off, and then it was just a strobe of fire out the window." 

 

Passengers aboard United Airlines Flight 1118 did receive compensation regarding the incident and delay. Emails from United showed that each passenger was offered a $200 flight credit along with a $15 meal voucher. The airline emphasized its commitment to safety as a priority and claimed an investigation was underway.

 



ADVERTISEMENT • REMOVE ALL ADS

 AeroXplorer is on Telegram! Subscribe to the AeroXplorer Telegram Channel to receive aviation news updates as soon as they are released. View Channel 

Comments (0)

Add Your Comment

SHARE




TAGS

NEWS United Airlines United Boeing Boeing 737-900 Boeing 737 United Engine Fire United Engine Flames

RECENTLY PUBLISHED

PHOTOS: Award-Winning Pakistani C-130 Wows Spectators at RIAT 2025 Airshow The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT), recognized as the world’s largest military air show, was held this July 2025 in the United Kingdom. Pakistan, once again eyeing the skies, was awarded the “Concours d’Elegance Trophy” at the event for its exhibition. NEWS READ MORE »
Tokyo-Bound Asiana Flight Experiences Engine Failure An Asiana Airlines flight bound for Tokyo experienced an engine failure, prompting its return to Incheon International Airport. NEWS READ MORE »
Learjet Owned By Vince Neil Crashes Into Gulfstream Jet, 1 Fatality Confirmed On February 10th, around 14:30 local time, a Learjet private jet aircraft crashed into another private jet after landing at Scottsdale Airport (SCF) in Arizona. NEWS READ MORE »


SHOP

$2999
NEW!AeroXplorer Aviation Sweater Use code AVGEEK for 10% off! BUY NOW

FOLLOW US ONLINE