Engine Fire Drama: United Flight 1871 Takes a Rough Turn Before a Safe Landing
What Went Wrong?
- A Boeing 757 with 168 passengers and six crew slated for Los Angeles took off from Newark on a Thursday morning.
- Almost immediately after launch, a dramatic flare—flames on the wing—ended up spotlighting a suspected engine malfunction.
- Video footage captured the fiery burst just minutes into the flight, all while the plane was still barely airborne.
Passenger Panic & Passion
- Gabrielle Guzy, one of the 168 passengers, shared her split-second confusion: “I didn’t know what was happening.”
- Her sister thought it was just a silly lighting glitch, but Gabrielle was certain: “It was fire coming from the engine.”
- Despite the close call, she kept urging herself that they would be fine—after all, they’d only been up in the sky a minute.
After the Fire
- All aboard landed calmly at Newark Liberty International Airport.
- No injuries were reported, and passengers disembarked as usual.
- United promptly swapped the troublesome plane for a new one, allowing the group to hop onto a replacement and head toward Los Angeles on Thursday.
Final Takeaway
Even when the skies get a little hot, the ground crew and airline keep things under control. A swift swap, quick reassurance, and, most importantly, zero injuries mean that people can travel confidently—flames or none.
