American Airlines plane lands safely despite engine flames

GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) - An American Airlines aircraft landed safely at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport despite a dramatic discharge of flames from one of the engines.

American spokesman Ross Feinstein (FYN'-steen) says none of the 136 passengers and crew was injured when Flight 438 to Seattle returned to Dallas about 20 minutes after takeoff Wednesday night.

A Federal Aviation Administration statement says the pilot reported an engine problem causing compressor stalls, which discharged flames from the back of the engine.

Feinstein says the left-side engine of the Airbus 321 was not on fire, despite the flames, and that the engine remained operational as the aircraft landed.

Passengers are taking alternative flights to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Thursday.

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This story has been corrected to show there were 136 people on the aircraft, not 139.