Just heard on the local news that ATC noticed smoke and flames coming from the engine on a UA 737 shortly after push back. The 737 returned to the gate without any problems. Passengers reported that everyone remained calm during the incident. All 109 passengers were scheduled on other flights. Maintainence reported the smoke and fire was due to a bearing failure in the engine. Not sure of the version of 737 or where it was going.

Jason Knutson - Austin, TX

Was it a P&W JT8D powered 200 model or CFM56 powered 300/500 model?

It was probably a CFM56 engine as UA does not bring in 291s in to AUS

Here's the "official" statement that was in today's Austin paper.

Engine fire grounds United flight


AUSTIN -- A United Airlines flight bound for San Francisco never left the ground Thursday morning after workers at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport noticed smoke and fire coming from the 737's right engine.

"As it was backing out of the gate, headed toward the taxiway, the tower noticed that the right engine was shooting flames," airport spokeswoman Jackie Mayo said. The cause, investigators determined, was a bad bearing in the engine. The 109 passengers were booked on other flights.

http://www.austin360.com/statesman/editions/today/metro_state_7.html

Jason Knutson - Austin, TX