An Atlas Air Boeing cargo plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Miami International Airport after experiencing an engine malfunction shortly after departure. The incident, which occurred late on Thursday, caused flames to shoot out of the left wing of the aircraft while in flight, according to unverified videos on social media. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to the situation, and thankfully, no injuries were reported.
Atlas Air issued a statement confirming that the crew followed standard procedures and safely returned to the airport. They also mentioned that an inspection would be conducted to determine the cause of the engine malfunction.
The specific aircraft involved in the incident was a Boeing 747-8, according to Flightaware data. This model is equipped with four General Electric GEnx engines.
Reuters reached out to Boeing, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and General Electric for comment, but they have not responded at this time.
This incident adds to the challenges Boeing has been facing since an Alaska Airlines MAX 9 airliner made an emergency landing due to a broken fuselage part on January 5. This prompted the FAA to temporarily ground 171 aircraft for safety checks.
As the investigation into the engine malfunction continues, the focus remains on ensuring the safety and reliability of Boeing aircraft.
