An American Airlines plane bound for Cancun returned to JFK Airport shortly after takeoff Friday when the pilot reported flames coming out of an engine and declared an emergency, sources said.
Flight 2681 took off for the four-hour flight to Mexico just after 1 p.m. but returned moments later and made an emergency landing on Runway 31L at 1:20 p.m., according to the FAA.
“The crew declared an emergency after the flight departed Kennedy Airport due to an engine-related issue,” the FAA said in a statement.
Port Authority sources told The Post that the pilot reported the fire, which a JFK worker on the ground saw in the right engine at takeoff. It was unclear whether any passengers saw flames.
American Airlines said a mechanical issue was what forced the Boeing 737-800 to turn around.
Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting units that inspected the aircraft after it landed reported no evidence of a fire, officials said.
“The aircraft landed safely and taxied to the gate,” airline spokesman Ross Feinstein told The Post.
The FAA and Port Authority are investigating the incident.
Additional reporting by Larry Celona
