US: Flight engine catches fire on runway, panic video goes viral

Flight 1382 operated by United Airlines evacuated its passengers on Sunday morning after its engine caught fire during takeoff protocols at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. The aircraft travelling to LaGuardia Airport in New York stopped while taxiing because the crew discovered that one of the engines was malfunctioning.

Passengers evacuated safely

The engine deployment produced fire along with smoke while passengers reacted with panic. Social media users captured the helpless moment through videos that showed passengers pleading for assistance while shouting “Please get us out of here.” A total of 104 passengers and five crew members managed to safely depart the aircraft through emergency slides and stairs.

Plane crash incidents on the rise

Lately many flight accidents have been taking place. The Learjet 55 carrying passengers experienced a fatal crash near a Philadelphia mall which killed seven individuals on Friday. The aircraft went down right after takeoff from Northeast Philadelphia Airport. On Wednesday the American Airlines passenger plane and the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed into the Potomac River leading to the death of 77 passengers near Washington, D.C.