Plane Makes Emergency Landing After Engine Cover Comes Loose And Shakes Violently

A plane was forced to make an emergency landing after an engine cover came loose and began shaking violently.

Footage taken from on board the United Airlines flight appears to show the cover flapping in the wind - and no doubt the mechanical failure got passengers on board flapping too.

The flight took off from Denver at 7.50am local time yesterday (Sunday) morning and was headed for Orlando, but it had to head back to Denver and make an emergency landing. Passengers subsequently took to social media to share messages they received from United Airlines.

According to The Sun, one passenger's message from the airline read: "We know returning to the airport wasn't part of your plans today, so we greatly appreciate you hanging in there!

"Our maintenance team needs to address a technical issue with an engine on your plane before we depart again. We're doing our best to get you on your way as soon as possible."

A spokesperson for the airline later confirmed that the flight was grounded due to 'a mechanical issue'.

He said: "United flight 293 from Denver to Orlando returned to the airport due to a mechanical issue with one of the engines.

"The flight landed safely and taxied to a gate where customers deplaned normally. Customers have departed on a different aircraft to Orlando."

Denver7/Bobby Lewis

Another United Airlines flight was forced to land in Denver last week - this time after a passenger got stuck in the toilet. The plane took off from Washington D.C. and was headed for San Francisco when the toilet door stopped working, leaving a female passenger trapped inside.

Jennifer Gettman, who was on board the flight, told CBS that the plane's pilot said over the loudspeaker: "In case you guys haven't heard the rumour, we are going to be landing in Denver because someone locked themselves in the bathroom.

"And of course we're not going to make her stay in the bathroom until San Francisco."

When the plane landed, a number of firefighters from Denver boarded the plane to get the woman out. In video from on board the aircraft, one can be overheard telling her: "Ma'am, we're just working on opening up your door at the moment, ma'am. We'll get you out soon - OK?"

The flight eventually landed in its destination two hours later and United Airlines apologised to everyone on board - especially the woman who was left trapped in the bog.

According to CNN, the airline said in a statement: "The passenger was safely removed from the lavatory after landing, and customers have since continued on to their destination on a new aircraft.

"We are reaching out to all customers on board and the customer in the lavatory to apologise."

Topics: United Airlines, US News

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey