Southwest jet cancels takeoff, returns to Lubbock terminal after engine fire

Federal officials are investigating a reported engine fire that forced a Southwest Airlines plane to cancel takeoff and return to the gate at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport Thursday.

Southwest said Friday that pilots"received an indication of a possible engine issue," and the Boeing 737 taxied back to the terminal at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport. The Lubbock fire department said online that it confirmed there was a fire in one of the two engines that needed to be extinguished.The flight was headed to Las Vegas with 154 passengers and a crew of six on board, Southwest said. The airline flew in a replacement plane from Dallas to complete the trip later Thursday night.

Donnie Rundell, a passenger on the flight, told KLBK-TV the pilots they were escorted back to the terminal by a fire truck and that the crew"did the best they could and they took care of us." "We were speeding up to take off and I thought we'd blown a tire on the plane. I mean it was pretty loud. But like I said, the pilots hit the breaks and everything stopped and everything was good," Rundell said.The plane was a Boeing 737-800, an older model than the 737 Max. The engines are made by CFM International, a joint venture between General Electric and France's Safran S.A.

Southwest Airlines

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

How much can an American or Southwest pilot make?Here's what pilots at Southwest Airlines and American Airlines make under their current contracts.
Source: dallasnews - 🏆 18. / 71 Read more »

An engine on a Southwest Airlines jet caught fire before taking off from Texas. FAA is investigatingFederal officials are looking into an engine fire on a Southwest Airlines plane. Southwest says the Boeing 737 was preparing to take off from Lubbock, Texas, and fly to Las Vegas late Thursday when pilots got a report of an engine issue. The Lubbock fire department says it confirms there was an engine fire that crews needed to extinguish.
Source: AP - 🏆 728. / 51 Read more »

Southwest Airlines confirms future red-eye flightsSouthwest said it will initially offer the red-eye flights in markets where they have a large presence, such as Hawaii and Las Vegas.
Source: FOX4 - 🏆 289. / 63 Read more »

Southwest Airlines may begin flying red-eye flights soonSouthwest Airlines is eying overnight flights in its future.
Source: dallasnews - 🏆 18. / 71 Read more »

Southwest Airlines flight leaving San Diego forced to turn back around after bird strikeThe strike happened Saturday morning right at lift-off as the flight was headed to Oakland.
Source: CBS8 - 🏆 335. / 59 Read more »

Southwest Airlines ground workers ratify deal with 18% raiseSouthwest Airlines' ground workers have ratified a new contract.
Source: dallasnews - 🏆 18. / 71 Read more »