Federal investigators cite wear and tear on fan blade in mid-air failure of Pratt & Whitney engine

The Boeing 777-200, with 229 passengers and 10 crew aboard, suffered a failure in its right engine and flames erupted under the wing as the plane began to lose altitude. Following a “loud bang,” the airline crew declared an emergency with air traffic control and made a “safe, single-engine landing” at Denver International Airport 20 minutes after the engine failure, Sumwalt said.