(NewsNation) — Millions of Americans hit the roads and skies for one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.
However, it wasn’t smooth sailing for everyone.
Several airlines and passengers nationwide reported multiple safety issues over the Memorial Day weekend.
While some passengers experienced delays and other issues, data from FlightAware indicates fewer than 100 flight cancellations this weekend.
Fires, smoke, and emergency landings
A passenger captured the moment a United Airlines plane caught fire while preparing to take off at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Monday.
Around 2 p.m., the takeoff was aborted for United Airlines Flight 2091, which was set to fly to Seattle, due to a reported engine fire, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Footage shot by the passenger inside the plane showed smoke coming out of the wings as the plane drove on the tarmac.
The aircraft was towed to the gate, and all 148 passengers exited the plane following the incident. Out of caution, fire and medical crews met the aircraft; no injuries were reported.
It’s unclear what sparked the fire.
Additionally, a Southwest flight heading to Tampa from Denver was diverted to Colorado Springs Monday night and evacuated after the smell of smoke was detected in the cabin, NewsNation local affiliate KXRM reported.
Meanwhile, passengers aboard a Spirit Airlines flight from Jamaica to Florida were told to prepare for an emergency water landing due to a suspected mechanical issue, CNN reported.
The plane was headed to Fort Lauderdale but safely returned to Montego Bay “out of an abundance of caution following a suspected mechanical issue,” the airline said in a statement.
The FAA is investigating the weekend incidents.
Record-breaking Memorial Day air travel
The Transportation Safety Administration reported it screened a record 2.9 million passengers Friday alone, marking a single-day record.
At one O’Hare Airport terminal, people were shoulder to shoulder, trying to make their way to kiosks and security in time to catch their flights.
Road trippers haven’t quite set a record but have come close, with 43.8 million families on the road over the holiday weekend, which is close to the 44 million record set in 2005.
