Passengers evacuate United Airlines flight headed to SFO in Newark due to engine fire

NEWARK, NJ (KTVU) - NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport has reopened after a plane engine caught fire, prompting a temporarily closure. 

United Airlines Flight 1579 from Newark to San Francisco was scheduled to take off Tuesday night when officials say its engine caught fire.

A spokesman for United, Jonathan Guerin, says the tower notified the crew of what appeared to be flames from one of the engines. He says the crew immediately deployed the plane's slides and evacuated the passengers.

The airport says on Twitter that five people suffered minor injuries.

United says it's working to get the passengers to San Francisco as soon as possible.

The airport says travelers should expect delays for the remainder of the night.

A spokesman for United issued the following statement: 

“During taxiing of United flight 1579 from Newark to San Francisco, the tower notified the crew of what appeared to be flames from one of the engines. The crew immediately deployed the slides and evacuated the aircraft. At this time we have a report of only one minor injury. Customers are being transported back to the terminal. We are working to get our customers to San Francisco as soon as possible.”

One passenger tweeted that they had to use the emergency slide to evacuate.