United flight at Newark forced to back to gate due to ‘mechanical issue’

A United Airlines flight preparing for takeoff on Tuesday morning returned to the gate due to a “potential mechanical issue,” the airline said.

The 302 passengers and 11 crew members aboard the Boeing 777, which was scheduled to depart around 7 a.m., exited the plane.

Flight 1960 to San Francisco is now scheduled for an 11 a.m. departure from Gate C110.

The Port Authority’s Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting unit responded but found no fire, a Port Authority spokeswoman said.

The incident remains under investigation.