A flight bound for Tokyo that took off from SFO at noon Monday had to turn around and make an emergency landing back at SFO after flames were seen coming out of one of its engines. As CBS 5 reports, United Flight 837, bound for Tokyo's Narita Airport, had to circle off the California coast for over an hour to burn off fuel before landing at 1:35 p.m. and one can imagine that was a harrowing hour or so for the passengers.
A witness on the ground in San Bruno, Sam Smith, tweeted that he saw flames shooting 10 to 20 feet out of the jet's engine and he heard a loud boom.
The @united flight out of @flySFO had flames coming out of left side engine, made loud bang noise, and then looked like it was going to land
— Sam Smith (@SISmith89) November 28, 2016
@nbcbayarea @united @flySFO don't have pictures. I'm in San Bruno, plane was at a low altitude - 10-20 ft flame out of engine for 2 seconds
— Sam Smith (@SISmith89) November 28, 2016
The Chronicle spoke to Smith, who said, "It was super crazy. It was just a really weird thing to see happen and it was so loud. There were a couple bangs."
United has not confirmed the report on the flames, however a spokesperson for the airline told the Chronicle they were looking into a "mechanical issue" on the aircraft, which is a Boeing 747.
Below, some raw video from CBS 5 of the plane making its emergency landing.
