Heard 15 Straight Loud Bangs' -- Former NFL Star Robert Griffin III Shares Terrifying Near-Death Experience

Robert Griffin III described a terrifying engine fire on a United Airlines flight departing Houston on Friday. The right engine of United Flight 102, a Boeing 777-200ER, apparently caught fire shortly after takeoff, prompting an emergency return to George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Griffin, seated near the affected engine, reported hearing 15 consecutive loud bangs as the crew assessed the situation. The flight was carrying 267 passengers and 13 crew members and was bound for Munich, Germany. United Airlines issued a brief statement confirming the engine issue, noting that the plane landed safely and that passengers deplaned normally while arrangements were made for another aircraft to continue to Germany. HTX Media later released footage showing the damaged engine after landing, adding to public awareness of the incident. Griffin stressed that there were no injuries and thanked the pilots and crew for bringing everyone home safely. Griffin also referenced a separate car crash in October 2025 involving his family, noting that, unlike that episode, this incident ended without injuries. He emphasized that the experience underscored the importance of safety and skilled aviation crews. He described the event as a sobering reminder of how quickly air travel can turn perilous.