A United Airlines flight bound for Newark was forced to turn around and return to Fort Myers, Florida after engine failure described by passengers onboard as an ‘explosion.’
United flight 2397 was in the air for just 40 minutes when it returned to Fort Myers and landed without incident.
It was met by airport emergency crews on the tarmac.
United only confirmed a ‘mechanical issue with the engine’ adding that it will offer an update when mechanics have inspected the Airbus A320 jet.
Passenger Cliff Maloney told reporters there was a loud boom like an explosion on the plane’s left side just minutes after taking off.
"Just had an engine EXPLOSION and EMERGENCY landing on my United flight from Fort Myers to Newark… This guy, with 1 engine without power, brought us down safely. Hero," Maloney tweeted.
The jet was carrying 79 passengers and five crew members, United said.
"United flight 2397 from Fort Myers to Newark safely returned to the airport for a mechanical issue. We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience caused by this delay in their travels," United said in a statement.
Another passenger, Peter Pirandr said: "We took off, and everything was normal, and at about 15 minutes into the flight we heard a loud bang."
