Watch Engine On United Flight Catch Fire Midair After Bird Strike; Plane Returns To O'Hare

CHICAGO, IL — A bird strike is being blamed for a fire that ignited midair in the engine of a United Airlines flight flying from Chicago to Miami on Thursday and forced the plane to return to O'Hare International Airport, CBS 2 Chicago reports. According to the Chicago-based carrier, the pilot for United flight 1738 headed back to the airport at around 8:30 a.m. Thursday after shutting down an engine that had been hit by a bird following takeoff at 7:45 a.m., the report added.

A passenger aboard the flight posted a friend's video on Twitter that showed small bursts of flames coming from one of the aircraft's engine. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Chicago — or your neighborhood. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

"All okay, but a few passengers freaked out & with a story to tell," the passenger wrote in another update, which included an emoji of the hand gesture for "OK." "United handled very well."

The passenger added that he had boarded another flight to Miami, which he said was ready to leave at about 10:44 a.m. Thursday, June 1.

"That had to be crazy to see from the ground too," he wrote in another Twitter update.

A United representative told CBS 2 that the airline would be offering reimbursements to the passengers on the flight.

UPDATED (4:27 a.m. Friday, June 2)

More via CBS 2 Chicago

Photo via Chicago Aviation Department | Patch archive

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