2 Passengers Sue United Airlines Over Horror of Mid-Air Engine Blast

Two passengers aboard a United Airlines plane that had to make an emergency landing after one of its engines blew apart in February are suing the airline.

One of their lawyers described the incident as "terror" that "lasts a lifetime," Fox News reported. In separate lawsuits filed in Chicago last Friday, Joseph McGinley of Honolulu, Hawaii, and Jonathan Strawn of Sioux City, Iowa, said they had suffered personal, emotional, and financial injuries. United Airlines is based in Chicago.

The two passengers were on the flight heading to Honolulu from Denver, Colorado when the Boeing 777's engine blew apart on Feb. 20.

Passengers mentioned hearing an explosion on the United Airlines' plane and seeing a flash of light during the incident. No injuries were reported.

Two Passengers Sued United Airlines

Passengers Joseph McGinley and Jonathan Strawn are both seeking a judgment above a $50,000 limit, The Hill reported.

"Imagine as a passenger looking out the window of a plane and helplessly watching the engine on fire," said Chicago Attorney Robert Clifford. Clifford is overseeing one of the cases filed by the two passengers, USA Today reported.

Clifford's law firm also represents the families of the 72 passengers who died when Boeing 737 MAX crashed in Ethiopia in 2019.

United Airlines Flight 328 Engine Explosion

A video that circulated on Twitter was able to cover an airplane's engine on fire. The fire was seen at the engine's end while it continuously shakes and somehow functions despite the explosion.

People on the ground witnessed huge chunks of the aircraft dropping, just missing crushing one home and a truck. The engine reportedly dropped debris in Commons Park and across some neighborhoods in Broomfield, Colorado.

Passengers of the said United Airlines flight feared that the plane would crash after the said explosion. The aircraft took off from Denver International Airport, and it was forced to make an emergency landing at the same airport shortly after takeoff.

United Airlines said it was the second incident of a mechanical failure for the same day. The company said a United flight from Cancun, Mexico, to Houston had to be diverted to New Orleans after also experiencing trouble.

In January last year, a United flight bound for Los Angeles also returned to Newark Liberty International Airport minutes after takeoff after the engine caught fire.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it is already investigating the United plane's latest engine failure. However, the NTSB noted that microscopic examination supports early suspicions that a fan blade snapped inside the engine due to wear and tear.

After the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration has ordered a review on all planes that have the same type of engine that malfunctioned on the Boeing 777. United Airlines has yet to comment on the latest cases filed against the company.

WATCH: United Airlines Flight 328 Passenger Files Lawsuit Claiming 'Severe Emotional Distress' - From CBS Denver