A United Airlines flight to New York turned into a nightmare for the 104 passengers and five crew members on board when flames and smoke emerged from the plane's right wing. The incident occurred at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport just minutes before the scheduled takeoff.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the crew safely aborted the takeoff due to a reported engine issue at around 8:35 a.m. on Sunday. Passengers were evacuated via inflatable slides and stairs and were transported back to the terminal by bus.

United Airlines stated that, although the incident caused alarm, no injuries were reported. A different aircraft was arranged to transport the affected passengers to their final destination at New York’s LaGuardia Airport at 2 p.m. Central Time.

The Houston Fire Department assisted in the evacuation, though they did not need to extinguish any fire upon arrival. Footage captured by passengers shows moments of tension and panic, with some pleading to be evacuated.

This incident comes at a concerning time for air safety, following recent tragedies such as the collision between an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., and the crash of a medical aircraft in Philadelphia, both of which occurred last week.

The FAA has launched an investigation to determine the causes of the United Airlines incident in Houston, emphasizing the need to improve air transport safety protocols.