Jet engine pulls in baggage container

LOS ANGELES, May 12 (UPI) -- A departing jetliner was taken out of service at Los Angeles International Airport after a baggage container was sucked into one of its engines, officials said.

The metal baggage container -- measuring about 5 feet by 5 feet by 4 feet -- was pulled from a baggage cart into the engine of a Japan Airlines Boeing 747-400 about 1:30 p.m. PDT Monday when the pilot pulled away from Gate 101 at the Tom Bradley International Terminal, the Los Angeles Times reported.

With the empty container lodged in the engine's housing, Flight 61 to Narita, Japan, was delayed and other travel arrangements were made for its 245 passengers, the newspaper said. The plane was towed to a hangar.

The Federal Aviation Administration was investigating. The newspaper said there was speculation the baggage cart had been placed too close to the jetliner.