A United Airlines Boeing 777 passenger aircraft bound for San Francisco from Beijing experienced terrifying moments just before take-off. As the aircraft was preparing to depart, the right engine suddenly burst into a fireball, prompting an immediate cancellation of the flight.
Panic at Beijing Airport
According to a report by the Daily Mail, the incident occurred on Monday, 26 May, at Beijing Capital International Airport. Flight UA889 was accelerating on the runway when flames erupted from the right turbofan engine, forcing the aircraft to abort take-off. Airport officials stated that the incident was due to a mechanical fault affecting both engines.
Passengers recount the fear
Boeing 777 suffers engine failure during take-off, flight cancelled.
“I was half asleep, sitting by the window as the plane was about to take off. Just as the nose lifted, I heard a strange noise from the right engine, and then a massive fireball shot out. Everyone panicked.”
Another passenger noted the intense emergency response at the airport:
“From the shuttle bus, we saw dozens of fire trucks, police vehicles, and ambulances. They all had flashing lights—at least 40 to 50 emergency vehicles.”
Flight cancelled, no casualties reported
According to local media and airline officials, all passengers and crew were safely evacuated from the aircraft. United Airlines officially announced that the flight had been cancelled due to the technical malfunction.
Boeing 777 safety under renewed scrutiny
The incident has reignited concerns about the safety of the Boeing 777, a long-haul aircraft widely used by airlines around the world. Similar engine failures in the past have led several airlines to suspend operations of this model as a precaution.
