Size Of A Bowling Ball": Passenger Describes Hole In United 767 Engine After Midair Scare

Passengers on United Airlines flight UA509 described an engine incident on a Boeing 767-400 as the aircraft made an emergency diversion to Ireland, later landing safely at Shannon Airport (SNN). The flight departed Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) for Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on July 11, about three hours into the journey, when one engine failed. Accounts included a sudden loud bang, “violent” shaking, and an odor in the cabin. A passenger, identified as Zach K. by PEOPLE, reported seeing an apparent hole in the affected engine during disembarkation, describing it as “the size of a bowling ball or two.” The Aviation Herald said vibrations were coming from the right-hand engine, with the crew shutting down the affected engine and descending to Flight Level 200 before landing roughly one hour later. The aircraft, tail number N76065, is equipped with two General Electric CF6 engines and had more than 90,000 flight hours and 14,500 cycles, according to ch-aviation.