D/FW AIRPORT An American Airlines Boeing 777 bound for Sao Paolo, Brazil was forced to make a U-turn Sunday night shortly after takeoff from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
The flight crew reported engine trouble. Airline spokesman Tim Smith said investigators are trying to determine the cause.
The Federal Aviation Administration had reported that Flight 963's engine and landing gear caught fire.
Smith said Monday that an initial examination of the jet found no evidence that an engine or its landing gear caught fire. An indicator light suggested the Boeing 777's right engine caught fire, Smith said, but investigators don't believe it did.
WFAA received numerous reports from people who saw Flight 963 flying at an unusually low altitude with streams of jet fuel exiting both wings.
According to tracking information published on the FlightAware.com Web site, the jet took off from D/FW headed south, crossed Highway 183 and then turned sharply to the east before it could cross Interstate 30. The aircraft traveled east for only 8 miles before turning due north and flying over Northwest Dallas, Farmers Branch and Carrollton.
The pilot then turned sharply west near the junction of Highway 121 and I-35E, traveled another 8 miles, and turned south over Flower Mound, headed back to the runway.
The brakes locked up as the 777 touched down, and a tire blew out. Emergency vehicles surrounded the aircraft.
No injuries were reported among the 264 passengers and 14 crew members on board.
American said passengers would be bused back to the terminal from the disabled plane on the runway.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.