A United Airlines flight from Houston to New York was forced to abort its takeoff on Sunday morning after flames erupted from one of its wings. United Airlines Flight 1382, an Airbus A319, was scheduled to fly from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to LaGuardia Airport when the engine issue caused a dramatic evacuation of the aircraft.
A Fiery Takeoff Incident
The incident occurred just after 8:30 a.m. on February 2, 2025. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the crew received a report of an engine issue, which prompted them to abort the takeoff. Eyewitnesses recalled seeing bright orange flames coming from one of the wings, creating chaos among the 104 passengers and five crew members onboard.
One passenger, captured on video, can be heard saying, “Please, please, please get us out of here,” as the fire became visible from inside the cabin. However, the quick response from the flight crew and emergency teams ensured that no one was injured.
Although flames were visible from the aircraft’s wing, the fire was reportedly extinguished by the time emergency responders arrived. The Houston Fire Department’s Airport Rescue team was on the scene, assisting with the evacuation. Fire officials confirmed that there was no active fire by the time they reached the aircraft.
Passengers were swiftly evacuated onto the runway using inflatable slides and stairs, a process that was carried out with efficiency and calmness despite the frightening situation. They were then safely bussed back to the terminal.
Following the evacuation, United Airlines rescheduled the flight to depart later in the day at 12:30 p.m. local time, with a new aircraft. The airline made arrangements to ensure the passengers’ continued travel to New York as soon as possible.
The FAA is investigating the engine issue that led to the fiery incident, though no further details have been released as of now. The airline has assured that the safety of its passengers and crew remains a top priority.
While this harrowing event caused panic on board, the quick thinking and coordinated action of the crew, firefighters, and airport staff ensured that all 109 people onboard were unharmed.
