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Two separate mishaps at airports, including a reported fire, occurred over the weekend, days after an American Airlines passenger jet collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over Ronald Reagan International Airport in Washington, D.C.
United Airlines Airbus A319 was reported to have experienced an "engine issue" at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston at 8:35 a.m. local time on Sunday (February 2), the Federal Aviation Administration announced via the Daily Mail. The plane was scheduled to depart for LaGuardia Airport in New York when passengers began yelling to the crew that a wing appeared to have caught fire, as seen in a video shared on social media.
The plane underwent an emergency evacuation and passengers exited through stairs and the emergency slide, according to FOX 26. The Houston Fire Department said it didn't have to put out any fires and no injuries were reported in relation to the incident.
A separate incident took place hours prior when the wing of an American Eagle plane being operated by Air Wisconsin reportedly collided with a tug vehicle at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago Saturday (February 1) night. The crash caused the tug to flip over, pinning its driver, identified as a 64-year-old man, underneath, according to FOX 8.
The driver was initially reported to be in critical condition for serious lower body and head injuries at Lutheran General Hospital but has since been upgraded to stable condition. The Federal Aviation Administration said all passengers on the American Eagle aircraft were deplaned and bused to the terminal after the crash took place.
The agency also confirmed it would investigate both incidents in Chicago and Houston. First responders were treating the collision in Washington D.C. last week as a rescue mission as officials "don't believe there are any survivors," among the suspected 64 passengers aboard American Airlines Flight 5324 and three soldiers -- all of whom have been identified -- on the Army helicopter, District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Chief John Donnelly said during a news briefing last Thursday (January 30) morning via CBS News.