My flight from EWR to Bermuda in the early '80's had this happen twice. First attempt to take off the engine backfired violently. I was at the window 2 rows behind the problem engine and we were just about to the end of the runway. They did some tinkering kept us on board and tried two hours later. That time I watched flames streaming from the problem engine but we weren't going very fast. So back to the terminal we went and they replaced the engine. Left at 6pm instead of 8am on a practically empty plane. I learned my lesson of knowing what other carriers went to my destination so I negotiate a change. Oh on the way back there was the controllers strike so got to wait in the airport for 6 hours again waiting clearance to land before taking off since the flight was so short and there was no food left at all.

msv