Motorhavari - B747 returnerte SFO - Curt Lewis

Flight from SFO returns safely to airport after engine failure

A pair of United Airlines' Boeing 747's are parked at the San Francisco International Airport in this file photo from June 22, 2005. On Monday, a United Airlines aircraft was heading back to San Francisco International Airport for an emergency landing after one of its engines failed shortly after takeoff. Photo: ERIC RISBERG, AP

A United Airlines jet returned to the San Francisco International Airport after one of the engines failed shortly after taking off for Japan, officials said.

The Boeing 747 aircraft, which is carrying 202 passengers and 15 crew members, departed from San Francisco International Airport for Japan at 11:36 a.m. A short time after takeoff, the pilot was forced to shut down one of the four engines, said Doug Yakel, a spokesman for the airport.

The engine experienced a "mechanical issue" causing it to shut down, said Erin Benson, a spokeswoman for United Airlines.

The aircraft landed back at SFO about 1:40 p.m., Benson said.

Sam Smith said he had just left the office in San Bruno around noon for lunch when he heard a loud bang. He looked up and said he was stunned to see the jet with "flames coming out of the left side" of the aircraft.

"It was super crazy," said Smith, a 27-year-old San Francisco resident. "It was just really weird thing to see happen and it was so loud. There were a couple bangs."
United was not able to confirm reports of smoke or fire following the engine failure, Benson said.