United flight returns to Newark in flames
United said the flight returned because of a 'mechanical issue'
Manchester, United Kingdom - February 16, 2014: United Airlines Boeing 757 in front of Manchester Airport Terminal. United Airlines is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A United Airlines jetliner headed for Los Angeles returned to New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport early Thursday after flames were seen near a wing.
Video showed flames soon after Flight 1871 had taken off.
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A passenger told WABC-TV it appeared fire was coming from an engine.
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"I didn't know what was happening," passenger Gabrielle Guzy said. “My sister said she thought it was lights but I knew it was fire from the engine. I kept reassuring myself we'd be OK because we had only been in the air for a minute."
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In a statement, United said the flight returned because of a “mechanical issue.” The airline said the flight landed safely and passengers deplaned normally.
The airline was working to get the passengers to Los Angeles.