A terrifying incident unfolded on February 2, 2025, at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, when a United Airlines plane experienced a fire shortly before takeoff. The incident occurred on United Flight 2208, which was scheduled to fly to Newark, New Jersey. Just minutes before the plane was set to leave the ground, passengers noticed smoke billowing from the left side of the aircraft. An eyewitness, who preferred to remain anonymous, described the scene, stating, ‘It all happened so fast. One minute we were ready to go, and the next we saw flames. Everyone was in a panic.’
Upon quickly detecting the fire, the flight crew acted promptly, initiating emergency protocols. All 150 passengers onboard were swiftly evacuated onto the tarmac using inflatable slides. Airport emergency services responded immediately, arriving at the scene to manage the situation and ensure passenger safety.
In the aftermath, one passenger reported to reporters, ‘I was really scared. I thought we were going to crash or something worse.’ Fortunately, no injuries were reported among those onboard. A spokesperson for United Airlines stated, ‘We are grateful that all passengers and crew members were safely evacuated, and our teams are working closely with local authorities to investigate the cause of the fire.’
Witnesses at the airport shared their shock and concern as they observed multiple fire trucks and emergency personnel attending to the plane. The incident led to significant disruptions at the airport, with several flights delayed or rerouted due to the emergency response.
While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been notified and a thorough investigation is expected to commence. Travelers at the airport experienced heightened anxiety as news of the fire spread. A traveler stated, ‘This makes you think twice about flying. It was just too close for comfort.’ Authorities have urged passengers to remain calm and assured them that safety remains the top priority. The aircraft itself was removed from the runway to allow normal operations to resume.
