The right-hand engine suffered a catastrophic failure, and showered the ground below with debris
Credit: UNPIXS (EUROPE)
"I can honestly say I thought we were going to die at one point — because we started dropping altitude right after the explosion," passenger David Delucia told The Denver Post.
"I grabbed my wife’s hand and said, ‘We’re done.’"
"I thought lightning struck the plane at first," added Nate Fisher.
13:08 — Engine falls apart
A shower of debris falls from the sky into Broomfield, a suburb of Denver about 20 miles west of the airport.
On the plane, people started filming the unfolding incident and praying.
"We looked at each other, my wife and I, held hands, and just wished our kids that we’d see them again," Bob Brown told KCNC.
Brenda Dohn, saw smoke outside the window and knew something wasn’t right.
"My daughter was sitting on the window and I was just like, ‘Don’t look, let’s close it up, and let’s just pray,’" she told KUSA. "So that’s what we did. We kind of just held hands and said some prayers."
Had a front row seat to the entire engine failure on United flight 328. Kinda traumatized to fly United more. #UnitedAirlines pic.twitter.com/5KdJn1BGfV
— Chad Schnell (@ChadSchnell) February 20, 2021
13:08 — Mayday
In a recording of the distress call obtained from the website LiveATC, which broadcasts air traffic communications, the pilot requested emergency permission to turn back to Denver.
"Three-twenty-eight, uh, heavy. We’ve experienced engine failure, need to turn. Mayday, mayday," he said, without obvious panic in his voice.
"Mayday, aircraft, uh, just experienced engine failure," he said, after the tower asked him to repeat himself. "Need a turn immediately."
13:08 — People on the ground take cover
Residents of Bloomfield look up to see shreds of metal tumbling slowly out of the sky. Shards of debris ranging from tiny scraps of metal to meters across crash into back gardens across the suburb.
Kieran Cain told CNN he was playing with his children at a local elementary school when a plane flew over and they heard a loud boom.
"Debris started raining down, which you know, sort of looked like it was floating down and not very heavy, but actually now looking at it, it’s giant metal pieces all over the place," he said.
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"I was surprised that the plane sort of continued on uninterrupted, without really altering its trajectory or doing anything," he said.
"It just kind of kept going the way it was going as if nothing happened." Cain said he and his children took shelter at a gazebo near the playground and watched the debris come down about two or three blocks away.
No-one on the plane or on the ground was injured
Credit: Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images
13:16 — Taking back control
Despite the power of the blast, the aircraft cruises smoothly without losing altitude or being knocked off course. The Captain banks to port as he begins a tight circle back to the airport for an emergency landing.
Troy Lewis said he felt confident they’d make it back safely.
"As soon as we kind of made the corner and we could see the runway, I made sure our family, we told each other we loved each other," he told KUSA.
The plane made a safe landing around 40 minutes after takeoff
Credit: Hayden Smith/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
13:29 — Safe landing
Trailing fire and smoke, Flight 238 makes a perfect landing back at Denver airfield. As the wheels touch the tarmac the passengers let out an enormous cheer.
BREAKING
This is the moment United flight 328 landed in DIA
Passengers cheer.
You can see damage to right engine.
Video: Troy Lewis #9news pic.twitter.com/wyYqlEEJgZ
— Chris Vanderveen (@chrisvanderveen) February 20, 2021
Danielle Thomas, who was heading home to Honolulu said: "I think the pilots had a huge hand in making everybody feel safe and comfortable."
Travis Loock added: "We’re having a cocktail.
"And, yeah, we’re going to try it again. We’re going to try it again. The odds are with us this time."
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