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United Flight's Engine Shuts Down in Mid-Air

Plane makes emergency landing in Colorado

By Mary Papenfuss, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 11, 2011 11:35 PM CST | Updated Dec 12, 2011 1:35 AM CST

(Newser) – A United airlines flight en route from Denver to Los Angeles was forced to make an emergency landing in Colorado when one of its two engines shut down. The Boeing 757 experienced trouble shortly after takeoff and was diverted to a Grand Junction facility typically used by much smaller airplanes. There were no injuries among the 125 people on board, reports the Los Angeles Times. The FAA is investigating, although an official emphasized that planes are capable of traveling long distances on a single engine. "There was some applause when we landed," a passenger told AP. "I think the crew handled it very well."

A United Boeing 757 make an emergency landing in Colorado when an engine shut down in mid air yesterday (AP Photo/The Salt Lake Tribune, Steve Griffin, File)

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boxcar

Dec 13, 2011 8:35 PM CST

The engine did not fail. All aircraft are controlled now thru Fly-By-Wire, just like Toyota autos are and as such are susceptible to RFI. Someone onboard used their cell phone to text or dial a number and since they were using an RF generator (a cell phone) within the confines of the fuselage, some of the wiring acted as antenna to pick up the strong signal and relay info into cockpit controls and aborted some aspect of engine controls Ask any AVIONICS engineer and they can attest to strong possibility of RFI from cell phones- ask Baldwin

GeminiMishy

Dec 12, 2011 9:16 AM CST

I wonder what the cost is to the airline to steam-clean all those seats...

JamaicaJim

Dec 12, 2011 8:38 AM CST

Bravo! Once again, the skills of aviators saves people. Bravo!

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United Flight's Engine Shuts Down in Mid-Air

Plane makes emergency landing in Colorado

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

California • Denver • Los Angeles • United Airlines • Colorado • Boeing 757

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