UA 777 Loses Engine Cover Mid-flight

[Flying Fox]

Mid-air horror as parts of engine fall off United flight

Landed without incident.

Some pretty worrying pics captured by passengers.

 

[Denali]

Very clever under a stressful circumstance.

 

[RooFlyer]

SMH has a couple of short video.

 

[Danger]

Mid-air horror as parts of engine fall off United flight

Landed without incident.

Some pretty worrying pics captured by passengers.

I saw the headline of "horror" and instantly knew it must have been this particular 'news' agency. Scary for a minute or (for those who actually saw it) but I really don't think this could legitimately be described as horror.

 

[Guvner]

I saw the headline of "horror" and instantly knew it must have been this particular 'news' agency. Scary for a minute or (for those who actually saw it) but I really don't think this could legitimately be described as horror.

I don't know, seeing half the engine casing fall off a twin engine plane would be pretty horrifying if you were on board I reckon.

 

[trooper]

A cowling more than a casing... scary initially yes.... but isn't that like a car losing a piece of aerodynamic trim? As far as function was impacted I mean?

 

[RooFlyer]

Well maybe but a couple of differences, the obvious thing being that the aircraft is a few km up in the air and traveling abt 800 km hr and shaking a lot. But for the pax the horror may kick in via not understanding the issue, not understanding it's consequences and not having any control over what happens next. Hard to feel cheery in those circumstances.

 

[Guvner]

A cowling more than a casing... scary initially yes.... but isn't that like a car losing a piece of aerodynamic trim? As far as function was impacted I mean?

Well. no. A car can pull over and the occupants can get out.

 

[Guvner]

A cowling more than a casing... scary initially yes.... but isn't that like a car losing a piece of aerodynamic trim? As far as function was impacted I mean?

casing: a cover or shell that protects or encloses something.

cowling: the removable cover of a vehicle or aircraft engine.

I'm not sure that all the bits that came off were meant to be removable.

But either way.

 

[UP4014]

Not only can they get out but they can also inspect in out up and down and check the damage.

For those who think it would have no big deal I would want an immediate landing as it's the bits under engine and wing I can't see that would be scary.

So yes, a scary malfunction with potential to kill those one board as well as below.

 

[UP4014]

A cowling more than a casing... scary initially yes.... but isn't that like a car losing a piece of aerodynamic trim? As far as function was impacted I mean?

Pity you weren't on board to tell everyone not to worry just a bit of aerodynamic trim.

 

[jb747]

Going by the vibration, I think a bit more than a cowling is involved.

Ah, yes, there's other pictures around now. It's thrown a fan blade.

 

[Denali]

If fell off over water, didnt it? Hate to think the damage it could cause if the parts landed on your house or kid.

This is ice falling from out of nowhere as an example, thats gotta hurt.
Graveyard shift on Instagram: “From out of nowhere: Shocking surveillance video shows a large shard of ice falling from the sky in London, narrowly missing passers-by on…”

 

[harvyk]

A cowling more than a casing... scary initially yes.... but isn't that like a car losing a piece of aerodynamic trim? As far as function was impacted I mean?

And the pax sitting next to the window has the engineering and aerodynamic knowledge to make that assessment based only on the one side of the engine that they can physically see, and not even inspect properly?

If I was on that flight, I would be wanting to get off it as soon as possible.