Moments after takeoff from Newark Airport, a United Airlines plane was forced to make an emergency landing Sunday night after a shower of sparks and debris plummeted to the ground.
The Boeing 777-200ER, which departed Newark at 11:24 p.m. bound for Sao Paulo, Brazil, had to enter a holding pattern at 24,000 feet over the Atlantic due to a suspected hydraulic pressure pump malfunction.
After spilling gasoline over the Atlantic to reduce weight, the aircraft returned to Newark Airport for a safe emergency landing an hour and a half later.
A neighboring plane spotter reportedly captured the horrific moment on camera, capturing the shower of sparks emanating from the landing gear area of the Boeing 777.
He also captured an image of a rectangular, rusty-appearing piece of debris that had fallen to the ground.
The Federal Aviation Administration has confirmed that the aircraft safely landed after the crew reported an emergency and that an investigation is currently underway.
No injuries or fatalities were reported among the crew and passengers.
Last night, video of what was believed to be a United Airlines Boeing 777 releasing debris and sparks after taking off from Newark was captured.
A neighboring plane spotter caught a photograph of the wreckage that fell from the aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration has verified an investigation into the incident is underway.
Flight UA149 has entered a holding pattern at 24,000 feet over the Atlantic after what is considered to be a hydraulic pressure pump failure.
United Airlines issued the following statement: ‘After experiencing a mechanical issue shortly after takeoff, our aircraft remained in the air to burn fuel and subsequently landed safely.
Passengers disembarked at the gate, and a replacement plane is scheduled to take out this morning.
This is not the first incident involving United Airlines’ fleet of rapidly aging Boeing 777s, which are among the oldest aircraft of their type in the world.
In February 2021, a United Airlines Boeing 777 en route from Denver to Honolulu experienced an uncontained engine failure.
Four minutes after takeoff, a huge explosion was heard and components of the engine began to fall to the ground over Broomfield, Colorado.
Jet engine components were dispersed around the entire area, with the entire engine inlet lip landing in the front yard of a single resident. Nobody was hurt during the incident.
From the ground, plane spotter Hayden Smith captured the spectacular moment on camera.
23 minutes after takeoff, and 19 minutes after the engine exploded, all 241 passengers and crew members were able to land safely.
This is not the first issue involving United Airlines’ fleet of rapidly aging Boeing 777s (pictured), which are among the world’s oldest aircraft of this type.
Later, the airline issued a statement declaring that 24 Boeing 777 aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney 4000 series engines will be grounded “out of an excess of caution.”
The FAA then announced that all Boeing 777s with Pratt & Whitney PW4070 engines would be grounded until further notice.
During this period, an exhaustive inquiry into the engine failure was conducted.
United Airlines stated they were working closely with the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board to “identify any additional procedures required to guarantee [their] aircraft meet [their] stringent safety requirements and can return to operation.”
The FAA issued a rule mandating that the maintenance inspection of Boeing 777s be conducted with additional care.
Specifically, the FAA attributes the event to the ‘hollow fan blades that are peculiar to this engine model’
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