Boeing cargo plane makes emergency landing in Miami after midair engine collapse
Illustrative photo (Getty Images)
A big cargo plane, a Boeing 747-8, had a problem with one of its engines shortly after taking off from Miami International Airport. The left wing of the plane had flames coming out while it was in the air, prompting an emergency landing back to the airport, according to Reuters and CNN.
The plane was flying for 14 minutes when the issue started approximately three minutes into the flight. The pilot radioed for help because of an engine fire and asked to return to the airport. Luckily, no one on board got hurt, as staff followed all standard procedures and the plane safely landed back at the airport.
NEW: Atlas Air Boeing 747-8 cargo plane forced to make an emergency landing at Miami International Airport after an engine appeared to catch fire.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 19, 2024
What is going on with Boeing?
The plane took off at 10:32pm and immediately circled back to land.
It landed back at the airport 14… pic.twitter.com/ketYYzNCOz
The cargo flight, Atlas Air Flight 5Y095, was heading to San Juan, Puerto Rico. The plane was eight years old, and it had four engines made by General Electric. Engine issues are rare but can be dangerous. Boeing and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the incident.
Atlas Air is a company that transports goods for big delivery companies like DHL and FedEx. The Boeing 747, once called the Queen of the Skies, changed air travel, but newer planes with two engines became more popular because they cost less to operate. Boeing stopped making the 747 in 2020, the last one was delivered to Atlas Air last year.
Boeing recent incident
This is not the first time Boeing plane midair incidents have grabbed public attention.
On January 5, part of the plane broke off while flying from Portland to Ontario, California. Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 was carrying 174 passengers and six crew members. The door plug, usually sealed off, separated from the plane midair, causing a loud noise and letting in freezing winds. The cockpit door opened, hitting a bathroom door. Later, the door plug was found in a teacher's backyard.
Passengers of the flight filed a legal case in Washington against Boeing. The Federal Aviation Administration grounded similar Boeing planes for inspection. The incident also caused a stir in the market, leading to a drop of approximately 8% in the company's stock during premarket trading.
