Engine Burst Into Flames on United Airlines Flight Shortly After Takeoff From Houston

On March 4, 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 incident, showcasing the bright sparks it shot out near the windows.

The Flight

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 p.m. to 9:40 p.m. local time. After taking off as expected, 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 (3,048 meters). 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 into a holding pattern at 6:52 p.m., 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 p.m., 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.

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 p.m. and landed in Fort Meyers at 12:50 a.m., over three hours after it was scheduled to land. 

As for the aircraft that suffered the engine failure, the engine surge occurred when airflow broke down through the engine's air compressor. The plane was scheduled to return to service on March 6. 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." Another passenger mentioned that it was so hot that the flame looked as white as it was in the sky. 

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