CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - A plane leaving North Carolina had to make an emergency landing shortly after takeoff because of an apparent engine problem.
The American Airlines flight from Charlotte to Chicago took off around 8 a.m. Wednesday and returned to the airport shortly thereafter, according to the website FlightAware.
Airport officials said in an email the flight safely landed after an alert was issued. Firefighters responded to the scene as a precaution.
A passenger on the flight, Jesse Batson, told WSOC-TV that after a “very bumpy takeoff” the pilot told passengers that the flight had to return to Charlotte because an engine stalled. Batson says passengers seated near him saw sparks from the engine.
American Airlines spokesman Ross Feinstein says there were no injuries and that the problem was not an engine fire.
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