A United Airlines flight traveling from Houston to New York caught fire while taking off from George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Sunday.While the plane was taxiing for departure, a sudden fire broke out on one of its wings, triggering an immediate and urgent evacuation. Miraculously, no injuries were reported, thanks to the swift response from both the crew and emergency services.
The Houston Fire Department (HFD) was on the scene in record time, providing assistance with the evacuation and ensuring the safety of everyone aboard.In a social media update, the Houston Fire Department (HFD) detailed their involvement in the incident: “HFD’s Airport Rescue Firefighters responded at @iah after a departing aircraft encountered an issue on the runway. Our team assisted with evacuating the plane, and fortunately, no injuries have been reported.”
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic inside the cabin as passengers, aware of the flames, began to panic. Some of them were heard pleading for help, with one voice ringing out in desperation, “Please, please, please, get us out of here.” Fortunately, thanks to the quick actions of the flight crew and the emergency responders, all 104 passengers and five crew members were safely evacuated.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, with the airline vowing to conduct a thorough inquiry to understand the factors that led to the alarming incident.
This comes amid a tragic week for aviation. On Friday, a plane crashed near a shopping mall in Philadelphia, resulting in the loss of seven lives and leaving 19 others injured.Earlier in the week, on Wednesday, a collision between an American Airlines flight and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C. led to both aircraft crashing into the Potomac River. Authorities have confirmed that all 67 people on board both aircraft are presumed dead, adding to the series of devastating events in aviation this week.
Panic spread among the passengers as flames were visible. A video captured the distressing moment, with one passenger pleading, “Please, please, please, get us out of here.”
The flight was carrying 104 passengers and five crew members, all of whom were safely evacuated. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
This incident follows a series of other aviation tragedies. This event comes on the heels of several other recent aviation disasters. On Friday, a plane crashed near a mall in Philadelphia, resulting in seven fatalities and 19 injuries. Earlier in the week, a collision between an American Airlines flight and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C., led to both aircraft crashing into the Potomac River. Authorities have confirmed that all 67 people on board are feared to have lost their lives.