"After consulting with my team of aviation safety experts about yesterday's engine failure aboard a Boeing 777 airplane in Denver, I have directed them to issue an Emergency Airworthiness Directive that would require immediate or stepped-up inspections of Boeing 777 airplanes equipped with certain Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines. This will likely mean that some airplanes will be removed from service. We reviewed all available safety data following yesterday's incident. Based on the initial information, we concluded that the inspection interval should be stepped up for the hollow fan blades that are unique to this model of engine, used solely on Boeing 777 airplanes. The FAA is working closely with other civil aviation authorities to make this information available to affected operators in their jurisdictions. The FAA's aviation safety experts are meeting into the evening with Pratt & Whitney and Boeing to finalize the details of the Airworthiness Directive and any accompanying service bulletins to ensure that the appropriate airplanes are included in the order. Exact details of the inspection will be specified in the emergency order."

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The move comes after the Feb 20th "uncontained failure" a Boeing 777-200’s Pratt & Whitney PW4077 turbofan engine (image below).

The incident occurred shortly after the 26-year-old United 777 (registration N772UA) departed Denver as flight 328 to Honolulu.

The failure sent engine debris falling to the ground, with the engine’s nose cowl landing beside a house near Denver.

The pilots made an emergency landing back in Denver 25min after take-off.