Engine fire on United flight makes emergency landing in Houston

UNITED BOEING 787-9 N24973 (MSN 40941)

United Airlines flight UA129, travelling from Houston-George Bush Intercontinental Airport, TX (IAH/KIAH) to Rio de Janeiro/Galeão-Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport, RJ (GIG/SBGL) suffered a problem with engine no.1 during departure from Houston.
A Skywest flight following behind radioed the tower that they observed flames coming from the left engine of UA129. The pilot communicating with a control tower reported "flames in the departure before us," which the tower confirmed as United Flight 129. The Skywest pilot described the situation as a "fire in the left engine," which rendered the engine inoperable. 

The United pilots then confirmed that the flight crew had declared an emergency and the plane would be turning back.

The flight initially pushed back from the gate at 8:52 p.m. (local) on Tuesday night, taxied out for runway 15L and got airborne at 9.05 p.m.  Climbed to 2,300 feet before turning back and landing again on 15L 14 minutes later at 9.19 p.m. 

Aircraft Information:

Airline: United Airlines

Code: UA/UAL

Aircraft: Boeing 767-322

Registration: N641UA

Serial Number: 25091

Engines: 2 x PW PW4060

First Flew: 12/03/1991

Age: 32 Yrs.