Plane engine catches fire before takeoff

A United Airlines plane bound for Seattle escaped a harrowing accident when its engine caught fire just before takeoff at Chicago's O'Hare airport.

However, everyone aboard remained safe. The pilot immediately halted the takeoff. It was United Flight 2091, carrying 148 passengers and five crew members.

The incident occurred on Monday around 2 pm. It was a busy Memorial Day. Videos captured the scary scene of black smoke billowing from the Airbus A320's wing. Emergency crews swiftly responded and the plane was towed to the gate. Passengers were evacuated without injury.

This mishap briefly disrupted other flights at O'Hare. The disruption added to travel woes due to severe weather across the US. Memorial Day weekend saw storms wreak havoc in several states, with tornadoes and floods claiming lives and causing delays for thousands of travellers.

It was expected to be a bustling summer travel season. Airlines are gearing up for record numbers of passengers, with United Airlines alone anticipating handling three million travellers during the Memorial Day period.

However, amidst the excitement of increased travel, concerns persist about air traffic control shortages and airport congestion. Airlines risk losing valuable landing slots if they don't use them efficiently, highlighting the need for ongoing efforts to address these issues.