United Airlines' 27-Yr-Old Jet Spews Fire During Beijing Takeoff

Source: OT-Team(G), 红星新闻

A United Airlines flight bound for San Francisco abruptly halted takeoff at Beijing Capital International Airport on Sunday afternoon after witnesses reported flames near the aircraft's wing, prompting an emergency response.

Multiple online videos captured sparks and fire erupting beneath the wing of Flight UA889 as it sped down the runway. The crew swiftly executed an emergency stop, and firefighters doused the aircraft with water as a precaution.

A passenger seated near the right engine recounted hearing a loud "bang" seconds into takeoff, followed by visible flames. "The plane jerked to a stop, and emergency crews arrived almost immediately," he said.

Flight tracking data showed UA889, originally scheduled to depart at 8:47 p.m. on May 26, was canceled, along with the next day's flight. The Boeing 777-200ER involved, with a 27.6-year service history, was grounded for technical inspections.

United Airlines rebooked affected passengers on a replacement flight, UA3045, departing Monday afternoon. Operational data indicates the replacement aircraft operating this protected flight also has a service age of 27 years.

Regarding the aborted takeoff incident, Captain Chen Jianguo, a veteran pilot, explained to reporters: "While this is indeed a 27-year-old aircraft, it may be equipped with newer engines. The incident isn't necessarily related to the plane's age."

Aviation industry experts emphasized that aircraft age itself isn't a determining factor for airworthiness. "As long as an aircraft meets all airworthiness requirements, its service age isn't an issue," one insider noted. "The retirement of older aircraft models depends primarily on airlines' operational profitability and route economics rather than safety concerns."

The experts listed several potential causes for the observed engine flare-up, including compressor stall, incomplete fuel combustion, or possible bird strike. "However," they cautioned, "the definitive cause can only be determined by the official investigation report."

Captain Chen further clarified the safety protocols for aborted takeoffs: "When an engine failure occurs during takeoff, if the aircraft speed is below the decision speed (V1), aborting takeoff is the safer option. If the failure occurs after reaching V1, the procedure requires continuing the takeoff and then assessing whether an immediate landing is necessary." He added, "Modern aircraft are designed to safely complete takeoff and landing operations even with one engine inoperative."