An American Airlines DC-10 en route to Los Angeles returned to San Antonio International Airport Thursday after one of its three engines exploded, officials said.
An American spokesman said the plane, flight 603, carried 229 passengers and a crew of 11."The flight originated in San Antonio and was to land at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, then continue to Los Angeles," American spokesman Marty Haires said.
Airport spokeswoman Linda Wasserman said the blown engine spewed metal parts along the runway during takeoff, starting small fires in adjoining grass.