UA1579 evacuated on the tarmac @ EWR - engine fire - 23 May 2017
May 24, 2017, 1:46 pm
#61
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It was probably your aircraft. We were on 5989, which left from gate 82. UA1456, ship 5989, arrived at gate 82 at 11:22 pm, so it looks as if we were on he same ship.
May 24, 2017, 2:57 pm
#62
Join Date: Jan 2017
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Yeah it was my ship for sure, all those details match what my flight status and info was from yesterday, glad you made it out there safely
May 24, 2017, 6:23 pm
#63
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I got a very nice call from the United corporate office this afternoon making sure that everything was fine. They've also offered a $500 travel certificate.
Last night, they brought in high quality food to the United Club--the old one at EWR; it looked as if they bought it from the vendors on the concourse as the restaurants were closing. They eventually relented and served alcohol.
I don't recall when the old Club closes, but we probably got there around 1030 pm. We seemed to be the only guests.
I have to say again that, all things considered, United did a truly great job yesterday.
Last night, they brought in high quality food to the United Club--the old one at EWR; it looked as if they bought it from the vendors on the concourse as the restaurants were closing. They eventually relented and served alcohol.
I don't recall when the old Club closes, but we probably got there around 1030 pm. We seemed to be the only guests.
I have to say again that, all things considered, United did a truly great job yesterday.
May 24, 2017, 6:28 pm
#64
Join Date: Nov 2009
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Glad everyone is OK. This is one thing that makes EWR OPPS such a tightrope - in the event of something like this the airport is frozen. It isn't like ORD, EWR, or most other major airports where you can use other runways.
May 24, 2017, 7:27 pm
#66
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Agreed, I think they should be prosecuted for endangerment and disobeying crew member instructions.
Alternatively UA could "Group Evacuate"
Group 1- Those pax who are smart enough to leave ALL carry ons behind
Group 2- Those pax stupid enough to think that them having their carry-on is more important than the lives of their fellow passengers.
Alternatively UA could "Group Evacuate"
Group 1- Those pax who are smart enough to leave ALL carry ons behind
Group 2- Those pax stupid enough to think that them having their carry-on is more important than the lives of their fellow passengers.
May 24, 2017, 7:41 pm
#67
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Washington DC
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Ordinarily if I was sitting in the exit row, I would immediately open the overwing exit. But, was the engine still on fire or smoking hot? Maybe that's why those exits didn't get used?
May 24, 2017, 8:22 pm
#68
Join Date: Aug 2008
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I wear a vest when I fly that has my cash, passport, keys, phone, USB sick with a backup of my important files, and other important things. I also never take my shoes off until we are at cruise, and put them on during the initial descent. I wear the same thing when I fly my own small plane... in which case I never take my shoes off. 
As for taking bags, I don't think seeing how quickly UA gets your bags back to you will do anything to convince people to leave their bags. People probably take their bags because they don't want the plane to blow up and have all their stuff go up in flames. If every knew in advance there would be no issue with their belongings, they probably wouldn't bother to evacuate in the first place.
As for what I would do in that situation, who knows. I imagine I'd grab my small laptop bag that I keep at my feet as I don't think it would make any difference in the amount of time it takes to egress. Its fast enough to just strap it to my body. I'd prob spend more time waiting for the person next to or in front of me. As for going up in the bin, I usually check my bag so its not a factor. If I did have a bag up there I can't imagine a situation where I could get it and not block someone or take more time myself. I suppose it all depends on the situation. If I have a broken leg, the cabin is flooding with water and filling with smoke, I probably wouldn't be going for my laptop bag.
As for getting arrested/fined for taking your bag and not listening to FA, I highly doubt that would ever hold up in court. In an emergency, people are in a different frame of mind and in a real emergency, in survival mode. Unless you're trained or have experience, there's no way to predict how you'd behave in an emergency.
I got a very nice call from the United corporate office this afternoon making sure that everything was fine. They've also offered a $500 travel certificate.
Last night, they brought in high quality food to the United Club--the old one at EWR; it looked as if they bought it from the vendors on the concourse as the restaurants were closing. They eventually relented and served alcohol.
I don't recall when the old Club closes, but we probably got there around 1030 pm. We seemed to be the only guests.
I have to say again that, all things considered, United did a truly great job yesterday.
Last night, they brought in high quality food to the United Club--the old one at EWR; it looked as if they bought it from the vendors on the concourse as the restaurants were closing. They eventually relented and served alcohol.
I don't recall when the old Club closes, but we probably got there around 1030 pm. We seemed to be the only guests.
I have to say again that, all things considered, United did a truly great job yesterday.
You shouldn't do anything unless a crew instructs you to (or its an obvious life threatening emergency). A common thing I hear from FA's are instances where someone freaks out and opens a door, deploying the slides.
Last edited by eng3; May 24, 2017 at 8:30 pm
May 24, 2017, 8:51 pm
#69
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Or US1549, which sank faster because a panicking pax opened an aft exit door.
May 24, 2017, 9:45 pm
#70
Join Date: Apr 2004
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) About 10-12 years ago, I was going through BKK a lot, and on one occasion about a week before or after I transited, there was an event with the UA flight which caused an aborted takeoff and an emergency evacuation. The news reports said there were numerous minor injuries, all due to cuts to the feet during the evacuation.
So it's shoes on for me!
May 24, 2017, 10:13 pm
#71
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I think it was this thread in 2008 about a 777 evac in Paris in February that taught me that lesson.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ia-slides.html
Could be worse than bare feet on a cold tarmac, of course, but still, keeping shoes on and passport/wallet/phone in cargo pants pocket is now SOP for me.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ia-slides.html
Anyway, we all of sudden had a full engine and power shutdown, which I thought very unusual, followed by an insistent bleeping sound which the rather startled cabin crew realised after 10 seconds was the evacuation signal. Then, lickety-split, open went all the doors, whoosh went the slides, and out went all the passengers in double quick time, albeit many with no shoes (!), out on to a cold and windy tarmac miles from the terminal.
May 25, 2017, 1:32 am
#72
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People just don't listen when evacuating. Leave your bags behind. Bring your passport and mobile phone (and charger) by keeping them in the seat pocket for easy access.
When on the slide, take your shoes off and keep them in your arms and slide. Put shoes back on at the bottom after moving out of the way.
When on the slide, take your shoes off and keep them in your arms and slide. Put shoes back on at the bottom after moving out of the way.
May 25, 2017, 4:21 am
#74
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Compressor stalls or maybe a hot start, they happen from time to time.
They typically are naturally extinguished immediately and no one ever sees them, especially during the day. This in particular was radioed by the plane behind who would have the best view. According to the ATC recording it was happening for 30+ sec and the captain cut power and evacuated.
They typically are naturally extinguished immediately and no one ever sees them, especially during the day. This in particular was radioed by the plane behind who would have the best view. According to the ATC recording it was happening for 30+ sec and the captain cut power and evacuated.