http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/23/BAMT12HDV1.DTL&hw=united+158&sn=002&sc=925 Engine problems force 2 planes back to SFO David R. Baker, Chronicle Staff Writer Saturday, August 23, 2008 (08-23) 15:33 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- Two Chicago-bound planes taking off from San Francisco International Airport - one today and one last night - developed engine problems and had to return. No injuries were reported in either incident. The first plane, United Airlines flight 158 to Chicago, left San Francisco around 10:30 p.m. Friday. But one of its engine compressors stalled, said United spokeswoman Robin Urbanski. With one engine remaining, the pilot turned the plane around and landed about 30 minutes after takeoff. Smoke entered the cabin after the plane landed and the engines were shut down, Urbanski said. The airline was investigating the source of the smoke. United provided overnight accommodations to the 240 passengers. Then, around 1 p.m. today, the right-side engine of a Northwestern Airlines flight caught fire shortly after take off. An eyewitness who contacted the Chronicle reported seeing two fireballs shoot from the engine as the plane left. Airport Duty Manager Dan D'Innocenti said the fire was quickly extinguished once the crew shut off the engine. The flight - also bound for Chicago, with roughly 110 passengers - returned to the airport and taxied back to the terminal. "Once the fire was out, it was not a problem," D'Innocenti said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. E-mail David R. Baker at dbaker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you wish to unsubscribe from the AIRLINE List, please send an E-mail to: "listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx". Within the body of the text, only write the following:"SIGNOFF AIRLINE".