United flight from DC to Tokyo returns after losing power and setting fire to brush near runway

Smoke rising from a small brush fire that was ignited when a United Airlines flight lost engine power - (HOUMAN HEMMATI via REUTERS)

A United Airlines flight departing from Washington, D.C., Saturday was forced to turn around after one of its engines lost power and ignited a small brush fire near the runway, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Flight 803, bound for Tokyo, departed from Dulles International Airport around 12:35 p.m., but lost engine power shortly after. According to reports, the engine troubles caused some brush to catch fire near the airport runway.