Plane makes emergency landing at Newark airport after apparent engine fire

A United Airlines flight bound for Los Angeles was forced to return to Newark Liberty International Airport minutes after takeoff on Wednesday due to a mechanical issue that caused flames to erupt from an engine, according to New Jersey 101.5.

United Airlines Flight 1871 took off around 9:10 p.m. with 168 passengers before the issue forced it back, according to multiple reports.

The plane I was on had an engine malfunction minutes after take off pic.twitter.com/maaGiLHD24

— Gabby (@gabby_guzy) January 15, 2020

“The flight landed safely and passengers deplaned normally. We changed aircraft to get our customers to their destination as soon as possible,” United spokeswoman Cheryl Gibbs told New Jersey 101.5 in a statement.

Nicole Adamo, a passenger on the flight, tweeted that the passengers had been given $500 flight vouchers and $10 meal vouchers before they were boarded on another plane with another pilot a few hours later.

Update: they’re getting us new pilots and a new plane (supposedly to get here in another hour) and they gave us snacks, water, $500 flight vouchers, and a $10 meal voucher – Theyre trying to make right & are consoling freaked out passengers. Stuff happens. We’re safe. It’s cool. pic.twitter.com/iuu3Tef7ZE

— Nicole Adamo (@Nickilishious) January 15, 2020

Fire trucks met the plane upon its landing back at Newark, according to NorthJersey.com.

The passengers reportedly had to wait until after midnight for a new flight. Nobody was reported injured.