United Airlines jet carrying 125 passengers forced to make emergency landing in Colorado

A United Airlines Boeing 757 carrying 125 passengers was forced to make an emergency landing in Colorado when one of its engines failed.

The aircraft was en route from Denver to Los Angeles yesterday when the engine, one of two, shut down.

The jet had to be diverted to a local airport Grand Junction Regional Airport, in western Colorado, usually used by much smaller aircraft.

Passenger Jim Schreckengast said ground crews at first had trouble finding stairs high enough to reach the door of the 757. But its extra long airport- more than two miles long- makes it suitable for larger planes to land, the Denver Post reported.

The aircraft landed safely at about 11:44 a.m., Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said. No injuries were reported.

United Airlines spokesman Charlie Hobart said he didn’t know what the cause of the problem was.

Amy Jordan from Grand Junction Airport, told the Denver Post that ‘the engine had problems shortly after takeoff’.

Jim Schreckengast, from Fort Collins, Colorado told The Associated Press that the pilot announced over the public address speakers that the engine had lost oil volume.

He said passengers remained calm and no one appeared to be afraid.

“There was some applause when we landed,” Jim Schreckengast said.

“I think the crew handled it very well.”

Charlie Hobart said United Airlines was sending another plane from Denver to pick up the passengers in Grand Junction and take them on to Los Angeles.