Author: Kash Brown
After two unforgettable weeks in China with 23 incredible people, the time had come to head home. We were flying back to the U.S. on United Airlines Flight 889 from Beijing to San Francisco, ready to rest, reflect, and carry the memories of our Journey to the East with us.
That morning, I made a last-minute decision to upgrade my seat from 48E (a middle seat in the middle row) to 36A (a window seat by the left wing. I just wanted more space and a better view for my usual takeoff video, something I always do when I travel.
As the plane started to lift off, everything changed in an instant.
I heard a loud boom. The plane shook aggressively, and dropped back to the ground.
At that moment, no one knew what had happened. The flight attendants instructed everyone to stay seated and buckled while they awaited updates from the captain.
About five minutes later, we were told fire trucks were on their way “as a precaution.” I looked out the window and saw four fire trucks and three firefighters positioned under our wing, hosing it down.
Then, one of the students in our group shared a video in our group chat. She was sitting on the right side of the plane and had captured the exact moment the engine exploded and caught fire.
That’s when it hit us:
This was real.
This wasn’t a small mechanical issue.
Our plane had caught fire during takeoff.
At first, we were told it was just the right engine. Later, it was confirmed that both engines were impacted. We were very lucky the fire happened when it did. Just 10 seconds more in the air, and it could have been a completely different outcome.
After about 30 minutes on the runway, stairs were brought to the plane and we were evacuated onto charter buses that took groups of us back to the terminal.
We picked up our luggage and were told we’d be staying the night at a nearby hotel—Guoce Hotel—with a new flight scheduled for 5:30 PM the next day. I shared the flight update received from the United Airlines app with the rest of the group.
The hotel lobby was chaotic. 229 passengers all trying to check in at once. While staff worked through the room assignments, they asked us to go have dinner. Most people in our group shared rooms, but a few of us (myself included) were placed in single rooms once the doubles ran out. It was a long, draining evening, with emotions running high.
Some of the rooms had themes like rabbits on the walls, while other rooms were more posh.
By the end of the day, emotions were mixed, excitement to return home, gratitude for the journey, and a bit of shopping-induced adrenaline. We said our goodbyes to our local hosts and program leads, took final photos, and boarded the flight that none of us could’ve predicted would become part of our story forever. What started as a day of reflection and lighthearted fun ended with a reminder of how fragile life can be. Thankfully, we were all safe, and that’s what matters most.
In case you missed it, check out Day 14 (Pt. 1) – Our Last Day in China
