Earlier today, passengers on a United Airlines flight at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport experienced an alarming disruption when their plane caught fire during an attempted takeoff. According to the FAA, United Airlines Flight 1382 was bound for LaGuardia Airport in New York when it had to abruptly halt its departure due to a "reported engine issue." The incident occurred around 8:35 a.m., as detailed in report from FOX 26 Houston.
Passengers needed to quickly evacuate the aircraft after discovering that an engine was on fire, sparking immediate concern and leading to emergency protocols being enacted. As captured in a video obtained by FOX 26 Houston, a palpable sense of urgency filled the cabin, with one passenger exclaiming, "No, it's on fire!" In response to the unfolding situation, flight attendants instructed passengers to remain seated. Eventually, all 104 passengers and five crew members were forced to disembark using stairs and an emergency slide, congregating afterward on the tarmac. The Houston Fire Department's Airport Rescue Firefighters swiftly responded to the scene to aid in the safe removal of all on board. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident, and there was no need for firefighters to extinguish a blaze, according to the Houston Fire Department.
This unexpected event caused a stir at Houston's main airport, although Fly2Houston's website reported no major delays at IAH. Passengers were still advised by airport officials to check directly with their airlines for any potential travel disruptions. As the nature of the "issue on the runway" mentioned by KHOU 11 remained unclear, IAH officials were reached by the news outlet for elaboration, which, as of their last update, had not been provided.
A subsequent flight was arranged by United Airlines to take stranded passengers to New York, slated to depart at 12:30 p.m. Meanwhile, the FAA began to investigate the incident in an effort swiftly to determine what may have caused the fire to break out. The final findings and circumstances that led to the fire have not yet been released. The aircraft involved was identified as an Airbus A319. As this is a developing story, additional updates are expected as more information becomes available.
