Passengers capture plane’s engine catching alight [watch]

Passengers aboard a commercial flight recently captured footage of their plane’s engine bursting into flames after a bird strike.

By: Lorne Philpot

A video filmed by passengers Marni Kallestad and Ryan Brink onboard a scheduled commercial flight in the United States shows frightening scenes of an aircraft’s jet engine burning up during the early stages of a flight. 

ENGINE CATCHES FIRE

Flames can be seen coming from out of the rear of one of the plane’s engines.  The plane’s engine caught fire, forcing the pilot to turn back to the airport of departure, for an emergency landing.

According to flight trackers, American Airlines flight AA1959 departed John Glenn Columbus International Airport in Ohio at around 7:43am on Sunday 23 April, en route to Phoenix (Arizona).

ALSO READ: Set-jetting: What is it and why is it popular in travel?

BIRDS STRIKE ENGINE

The American Airlines Boeing 737 aircraft had to make an emergency landing after it hit a flock of birds, which one passenger said appeared to be “ingested” into one of the engines. This resulted in terrifying sounds and the aircraft shaking in the sky.

Passengers seated near the window said they could see flames shooting out from the engine. The frightening incident occurred just after takeoff. 

HAPPY LANDINGS

Nobody was injured in the incident, but one eye-witness said many of the passengers were very shaken. Passenger Marnie Kallestad told ABC that a number of people were in fear and crying out.

“Many people started crying and going into tears, because we just didn’t know if we were going to make it or not.” Kallestad said, per Unilad.

ALSO READ: Fancy visiting Istanbul or Abu Dhabi for free? Here’s how!

RELIABLE TECHNOLOGY

Shaken and upset by the experience, the aircraft and its passengers were brought safely back to terra firma, thanks to modern technology. Aviation exerts have said that today’s aircraft are capable of flying with only one functioning engine.

The pilot of American flight AA1959 did just that. He piloted the aircraft loaded with passengers and fuel, safely back to the ground.

ALSO READ: Northern Lights: Magnifient views from the flight deck