A United Airlines flight was evacuated on Sunday morning after flames were seen coming from one of its wings during an aborted takeoff at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The incident occurred at approximately 8:35 a.m. when United Airlines Flight 1382, an Airbus A319 bound for New York’s LaGuardia Airport, began taxiing down the runway but was forced to stop due to a reported engine malfunction.
Passengers Witness Fire
Videos captured by passengers inside the aircraft quickly went viral, showing travelers in a state of panic. One passenger could be heard urgently saying, “No, it’s on fire,” while flight attendants instructed passengers to remain seated. However, the sight of flames coming from the wing caused widespread fear among those onboard.
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Ashlyn Sharp, a passenger on the flight, described the terrifying moment, saying she heard a loud noise and felt the plane shake before seeing flames outside her window. “It sounded like something flew into the engine or something. [It] scared everyone,” Sharp told Fox 26. She added that the cabin filled with the smell of smoke, further increasing panic among passengers.
Emergency Evacuation
All 104 passengers and five crew members were evacuated safely using emergency slides and stairs. The Houston Fire Department responded quickly to assist with the deboarding process, but officials later stated that firefighters did not have to extinguish a fire.
Despite the swift evacuation, passengers were left stranded on the tarmac for approximately two and a half hours while waiting for shuttles, ambulances, and police. Eventually, the travelers were transported to the terminal and later placed on a different aircraft to complete their journey to New York.
United Airlines released a statement acknowledging the incident, saying: “During takeoff, United flight 1382 received an indication about one engine and halted the takeoff while still on the runway. Passengers deplaned on the runway via a combination of slides and stairs and were bused to the terminal. There are no reported injuries at this time.” The airline arranged for another plane to depart at 2:00 p.m.
FAA Investigation Underway
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the cause of the engine malfunction that led to the aborted takeoff. The agency has not yet provided details on the exact circumstances that led to the fire.
The incident comes amid broader concerns about aviation safety following two major air disasters in the past week. Just four days earlier, 67 people were killed in Washington, D.C., when a passenger plane collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. Two days before the Houston fire, a medical plane crashed into a Philadelphia neighborhood, killing seven and injuring 19.
Aviation Safety and Industry Challenges
The FAA, which remains without a permanent leader, has faced mounting scrutiny over aviation safety. Within its first two weeks in office, the Trump administration offered buyouts to air traffic control workers in an industry already struggling with staffing shortages. At the same time, billionaire Elon Musk has publicly called for the resignation of acting FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker.
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For now, passengers and airline officials alike are relieved that the situation did not escalate into a tragedy. “Hopefully, it was just a freak accident,” said Sharp. “I’m glad everyone was OK.” While United Airlines has not yet announced whether it will conduct an internal investigation into its fleet of Airbus A319 aircraft, the incident has raised concerns about maintenance and operational safety.