A small grass fire ignited on the runway’s edge on Monday was caused by an ‘engine issue’ from a United Airlines
Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The aircraft was taxiing to depart; however, following the fire, the aircraft returned to the gate for inspection.

UA2136 bound for Washington

According to the airline, the ‘engine issue’ caused the aircraft to return to the gate and was met by emergency responders and United maintenance crew. Flightradar24 identifies that United Airlines flight UA2136, operated by the 737, was scheduled to depart Boston Logan International Airport
(BOS) at 19:15. Reports by NBC Boston identified that the airline delayed the flight “due to an issue with the engine,” and the cause was “immediately addressed.”

Simple Flying reached out to United for comment, and a spokesperson provided this statement:

“United flight 2136 from Boston to Dulles was delayed prior to departure due to an issue with the engine, which our local ground crew and emergency responders immediately addressed. The plane never left the ground and returned to the gate where passengers deplaned normally. No injuries were reported. We arranged for a different aircraft, and it departed around 9 p.m. last night.”

 United Airlines Boeing 737-800 airplane at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in the United States.

Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

There were 162 passengers and six crew members onboard, and there have been no reports of injury. Passengers were disembarked at the terminal and re-accommodated onto another aircraft. The flight, which usually only takes just over an hour, eventually departed from the Massachusetts airport at 21:57, landing in the US capital at 23:07.

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The engine did not catch fire

According to NBC, the Massachetsus Port Authority (Massport) confirmed the aircraft did not catch fire. However, the grass near the edge of the runway ignited as the plane was moving down the tarmac. The plane could then move back to the gate for further inspection. While we can only speculate on what could have caused the fire from the engine, common reasons for an engine fire can be fluctuating fuel pressures, broken fuel lines, over-priming, or loss of engine oil.

A United Boeing 737-800 flying low to the ground.

Photo: Lukas Souza | Simple Flying

Residents in the local area of Winthrop suburb described that around the time the aircraft was taxiing to the runway, they could hear loud noises, and their homes began to shake. According to WCVB, resident Joe Quigley noted:

“It was like two loud bangs. It was something that [made] you notice something happened at the airport.”

Four flights daily to Washington

United Airlines operates up to four daily services between Boston and Washington and is the sole operator. The carrier follows the schedule below according to the airline’s website:

  • UA1734, departing Boston at 05:45, arriving in Dulles at 07:29 (operated by Airbus A320)
  • UA2098, departing Boston at 09:38, arriving in Dulles at 11:22 (operated by Boeing 737-900)
  • UA216, departing Boston at 14:00, arriving in Dulles at 15:44 (operated by Airbus A320)
  • UA2136, departing Boston at 19:38, arriving in Dulles at 21:25 (operated by Boeing 737 MAX 8)
United Airlines Airbus A320 (N497UA) taking off from Denver International Airport.

Photo: Denver International Airport

At Boston, the

United Club
, located in Terminal B, near gate 24, is available for eligible passengers before their flight. Alternative carriers, American, Delta, and JetBlue
operate multiple services between Boston and Washington. However, these services operate directly into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

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