A United Airlines flight bound for New York was forced to abort takeoff at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) after an engine fire, prompting a dramatic emergency evacuation. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the incident occurred around 8:35 a.m. on Sunday, when the crew of United Airlines Flight 1382, an Airbus A319, detected an issue with one of the engines during takeoff.
Video footage captured by a passenger inside the plane, later obtained by FOX 26 Houston, showed flames coming from the wing, causing panic inside the cabin. In the video, a flight attendant can be heard instructing passengers to remain seated, but some passengers began shouting in alarm. One passenger can be heard exclaiming, “No, it’s on fire!” as others scrambled to look out the windows. The terrifying moment unfolded as the flight, carrying 104 passengers and five crew members, prepared for departure from Houston to LaGuardia Airport in New York City.
The Houston Fire Department reported that passengers were evacuated using both stairs and the emergency slide, with many standing on the tarmac for over two hours before being transported back inside the terminal. Emergency responders, including shuttles, ambulances, and police officers, arrived at the scene to assist. Despite the frightening situation, officials confirmed that no injuries were reported among passengers or crew members. The fire department also noted that they did not have to put out an active fire, suggesting the flames either extinguished themselves or were contained before escalating further.
One of the passengers, Ashlyn Sharp, described the terrifying experience. She recalled hearing a loud noise and feeling the aircraft shake, causing her to wake up from an attempted nap during takeoff. Sharp initially tried to remain calm, but panic set in when she and other passengers saw flames on the wing and began to smell smoke inside the cabin. As tension rose, passengers ignored the crew’s initial instructions to stay seated and began preparing to leave on their own. Sharp admitted that while she personally wasn’t afraid at first, the sight of other passengers screaming, crying, and rushing to evacuate made her feel even more anxious.
Sharp also expressed that the incident felt even more distressing given the recent deadly plane crashes in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, which have heightened concerns over aviation safety in the U.S.. She noted that after the crew realized passengers would not stay in their seats much longer, they proceeded with an emergency evacuation using the slides at the rear of the aircraft. Following the evacuation, passengers were stranded on the tarmac for approximately two and a half hours before being escorted back to the terminal.
Passengers who were originally scheduled to travel on Flight 1382 were rebooked on another flight to New York at 12:30 p.m., according to Houston Airports. Meanwhile, the FAA has launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the engine failure and fire. Officials have yet to release details on what triggered the malfunction, though early reports suggest the possibility of a foreign object striking the engine during takeoff.
Despite the chaotic experience, Sharp remains optimistic and grateful that the situation was not worse. “Hopefully, it was just a freak accident,” she said. “I’m just glad everyone was OK.”
The incident adds to a growing series of aviation mishaps in the U.S., raising concerns over aircraft maintenance, operational safety, and emergency preparedness. Authorities are expected to conduct further inspections and safety evaluations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
