A United Airlines engine burst into flames while taking off in China.

The Boeing 777 was accelerating along the runway when the right turbofan suddenly emitted a massive ball of fire at the Beijing Capital International Airport.

Officials said that Flight UA889 to San Francisco, California, was cancelled due to the mechanical failure that affected both engines on Monday, May 26.

A frightened passenger aboard the aircraft said: 'I was sitting by the window, half asleep, when the plane took off. The nose of the plane should have lifted, and suddenly the right engine made a noise, and I saw a ball of flame gushing out.'

Another traveller added: 'We saw countless fire trucks, police cars, ambulances, and engineering vehicles from the shuttle bus. There were as many as 40 or 50 of them, all flashing different lights.'

Local media reported that all passengers and crew members were safe.

United Airlines confirmed that the flight was cancelled due to a technical malfunction. Affected passengers were offered complimentary rebooking, with additional travel arrangements still being coordinated.

Fire crews at the airport responded swiftly, dousing the engines with fire-suppressing foam.

The Boeing 777 is designed to operate for approximately 60,000 flight cycles or 20 to 25 years, based on rigorous testing and simulations under in-service conditions. However, with proper maintenance and regulatory approval, many 777s are expected to safely exceed their original design life.