Boeing plane makes emergency landing at Sea-Tac

A twin-engine Boeing 777 returned safely to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Wednesday after the crew reported flames shooting out of one of the engines shortly after takeoff.

No injuries were reported.

Asiana Airlines Flight 271, headed to Seoul, turned around soon after takeoff, airport spokesman Perry Cooper said. Witnesses on the ground reported hearing explosions.

Cooper said it was not immediately clear what might have caused the flames. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Mike Fergus said it could have been a backfire.

Fergus confirmed no one was injured and said there were no major delays for other flights.

The plane dumped fuel over Puget Sound before landing without incident at about 3:30 p.m. and taxiing to the gate. Airport spokeswoman Terri-Ann Betancourt said the flight left Seattle at 2:25 p.m. and carried 179 passengers and crew.

"There were no flames, no fire when it landed. It did taxi under its own power," she said.

The FAA will investigate the incident and provide a report to the National Transportation Safety Board, Fergus said.

A call to Asiana Airlines in Seattle was not immediately returned.