NEW YORK, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- American Airlines officials say an MD-80 jetliner bound for Atlanta was forced to return to New York Monday when a rear engine failed after takeoff.
The plane landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport shortly after taking off from LaGuardia Airport and no one was injured in the incident, Newsday reported Tuesday. The airline said passengers aboard the 140-seat aircraft were put on other flights to Atlanta.
Officials say the incident happened shortly after American Airlines Flight 2393 took off at 4:39 p.m. Monday afternoon. Debris, believed to be from one of the two rear engines, fell to the runway during takeoff.
The plane was very low to the ground, witnesses said.
"It was obvious that it was trying to climb but was unable to, flying directly over my head," Ed Engels, who lives near the airport, told Newsday. "I watched as he was pulling out to Long Island Sound. That plane was limping at a very low altitude. I watched until he went out of sight. I was very afraid."
