United Airlines Boeing 777 with 241 people on board makes emergency landing in Denver after its engine exploded mid-flight and rained down enormous pieces of debris onto Colorado homes

• • Police in Broomfield, Colorado responded to residents who reported large objects falling from the sky
  • Local investigators arrived at different addresses to see huge metal objects strewn across front lawns 
  • The broken pieces of aircraft came from United Airlines Flight 328 from Denver to Honolulu
  • Boeing 777-200, which was carrying 231 passengers and 10 crew, diverted back to Denver and landed safely 
  • The plane's engine is believed to have set alight mid-flight; Plane landed 40 minutes after taking off
  • Video posted on Twitter showed the engine fully engulfed in flames as the plane flew through the air 
  • Audio of the pilot’s distress mayday call to air traffic control was released on Saturday afternoon
  • ‘Three twenty eight, heavy, experienced engine failure. We need to turn,’ pilot is heard saying in distress call
  • Broomfield is a suburb located some 25 miles north of Denver; Police said it was a 'miracle' no one was hurt

A United Airlines flight bound for Hawaii was forced to make an emergency landing shortly after taking off from Denver after suffering major damage to one of its engines and dropping huge pieces of debris over a neighborhood in Colorado as dramatic audio from the mayday call reveals the pilot asking air traffic control to immediately turn the aircraft around.

Flight UA328, which was carrying 231 passengers and 10 crew members, suffered serious engine failure shortly after takeoff from Denver, the Federal Aviation Administration said on Saturday. There were no reported injuries either on board or on the ground.

The Boeing 777-200, which was scheduled to fly to Honolulu in Hawaii, diverted back to Denver and landed safely about 40 minutes after takeoff.

'Flight 328 from Denver to Honolulu experienced an engine failure shortly after departure, returned safely to Denver and was met by emergency crews as a precaution. There are no reported injuries on board, and we will share more information as it becomes available,' United spokesperson David Gonzalez said in a statement. 

'The FAA is aware of reports of debris in the vicinity of the airplane’s flight path. Please contact local officials and the airline for further information about the passengers,' the FAA said in a statement. 

The Broomfield Police Department posted photos on Twitter showing large, circular pieces of debris leaning against a house in the suburb about 25 miles north of Denver. 

Police are asking that anyone injured come forward. One officer said it was a miracle nobody on the ground was hurt. 

Huge pieces of the plane's engine cowling could be seen littering the lawns of houses. 

Additional debris was found scattered across turf field at Commons Park.