Engine trouble diverts plane back to SLC airport
Feb 26, 2018, 1:27 PM | Updated: 9:45 pm
SALT LAKE CITY — A plane departing Salt Lake City International Airport Monday morning had to return back because of apparent engine trouble.
The Southwest Boeing 737 was scheduled to leave about 6:40 a m for LAX. Shortly after takeoff, you can hear the pilot report “an engine malfunction,” according to air traffic control recordings. He requests to “go somewhere and hold” before he declares an emergency.
About 20 minutes after takeoff, SLC International Airport officials said the plane landed back on the tarmac without incident or injuries. According to a Southwest press release, they said the pilot followed protocols and procedures after receiving a cockpit indication of a performance issue with one of the aircraft’s engines.
KSL has heard from a handful of people who said they saw this struggling plane from below.
Jerry Schweiss of Grantsville said he was a passenger in a vehicle heading on I-80 towards Salt Lake when he saw “fireballs shooting out of one of the engines that would have been the right side of the airplane.”
While Southwest officials said they can’t confirm fire coming from the engine, the experience had to be scary for the pilots and passengers.
Schweiss said, “I can’t imagine was going through their mind. I don’t know, that would be a very pleasant experience at all.”
Southwest officials said customers were swapped on to another plane to continue their trek to LAX. They apologized for the inconvenience, but said safety is their first priority.
From @slcairport: @SouthwestAir flight #604 from SLC to LAX returned to the gate shortly after take off due to what appeared to be an engine fire. Plane returned to the gate without incident.
— Caitlin Burchill (@newsyCaitlin) February 26, 2018
