Jet with flaming engine lands safely at LA airport

Flight 113, a Boeing 777 bound for Manila, reported a problem with the right engine after takeoff. It turned around and landed at noon. According to the airline, all 342 passengers and 18 crew members are safe.

Los Angeles: A Philippine Airlines jet with flames spurting from one engine has returned safely to Los Angeles International Airport shortly after takeoff on Thursday.

Ian Gregor of the Federal Aviation Administration said that Flight 113, a Boeing 777 bound for Manila, reported a problem with the right engine after takeoff. It turned around and landed at noon.

Passengers and people on the ground videotaped blasts of flame coming from the right engine.

Passenger Walter Baumann said that he heard a series of booms and saw 'balls of fire' coming from the right engine.

LAX spokesman Heath Montgomery says there was no sign of flames from the plane when it landed but firefighters were on hand as a precaution.

The airline says all 342 passengers and 18 crew members are safe. The passengers were later transferred to another flight.