Passengers on a United flight at Chicago O’Hare International Airport got a fiery surprise when their trip to Seattle was cut short before it could even begin. United Flight 2091, carrying 148 passengers and a crew of five, was forced to abort takeoff after an engine fire broke out around 2 p.m. on Monday. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the Airbus A320 was still on the taxiway when the flames erupted.
There was likely more than a sigh of relief as no one was injured and the aircraft, quickly dowsed by emergency response, was towed safely back to the gate. United Airlines stated they are "working with customers to make alternate arrangements," as reported by the Chicago Tribune. To swiftly handle the disruption, all passengers were transferred to a different plane to continue their travel, showing the airline's dedication to minimizing inconvenience.
In response to the incident, the FAA briefly put a stop to arrivals into O'Hare, but normal operations were reported to resume by 2:45 p.m. The quick containment of the fire and the airport’s efficient handling of the situation meant that delays were minimal, according to United Airlines in a statement acquired by ABC 7 Chicago. The fire department and medical personnel were on the scene out of an abundance of caution, the airline added.
For those on board, it was an unexpected detour on what was otherwise an ordinary travel day. "There were no injuries,” United reassured, offering some solace amidst the fears such an emergency can elicit. The seamless coordination of airport staff and first responders ensured that, out of an abundance of caution, the potentially hazardous event was reduced to nothing more than a brief scare and a slight travel delay.
