For some people, flying is just too much. The idea of being in a sardine can, zipping around at 400mph, 30,000 feet above the ground just isn’t their idea of a good time.
Of course, it should be noted that plane crashes and other airborne incidents are extremely rare, thanks to the ways in which the technology of flight has advanced. Often, pilots are getting their vehicles airborne and bumping the yolks on landing, but otherwise allow the onboard computer to keep the airplane traveling to is destination.
But when things do go wrong, it can be both terrifying and tragic.
This week, things were terrifying, but thankfully not tragic.
A United Airlines flight experienced engine failure after taking off from Denver International Airport on Saturday but landed safely after dropping debris over northern Colorado, officals said.
The Hawaii-bound jet was a Boeing 777 with 10 crew members and 231 passengers on board, according to reports.
Frightening video recorded from inside the plane showed the damaged engine on fire.
“When it initially happened, I thought we were done. I thought we were going down,” passenger David Delucia, who was traveling with his wife, told The Associated Press.
Video of the incident was circulating on social media, and it was not for the faint of heart.
Warm thoughts and a couple bourbons for the person who had to sit next to this view of the plane engine before the emergency landing in Denver.pic.twitter.com/4k0gdv1jbs
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) February 22, 2021
Pieces of the engine were soon strewn about the area below.
A United Airlines flight bound for Honolulu landed safely at Denver International Airport after suffering a right-engine failure soon after takeoff, with debris from the plane scattered on the ground https://t.co/hpkSCFeFbZ pic.twitter.com/qJl2CG4lfj
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 21, 2021
“The pilot did an amazing job. It was pretty unnerving.”
A United plane with 231 passengers and 10 crew aboard suffered a catastrophic failure in its right engine and huge pieces of debris rained down on a Denver suburb. No one was injured. https://t.co/2nAEF96ikf
— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) February 21, 2021
Thankfully, no one was injured in the incident, with the plane landing safely back at the Denver airport.
