Aircraft operated by United Airlines forces an unscheduled landing at Dulles Airport following the pilot's distress call
United Airlines Flight 108 Makes Emergency Landing at Washington Dulles International Airport
On July 25, 2023, United Airlines Flight 108, bound for Munich, Germany, made an emergency landing at Washington Dulles International Airport. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying a total of 219 passengers and 11 crew members, experienced a left engine failure shortly after takeoff.
The pilot communicated with air traffic control, stating, "Engine failure, left engine, United 108 declaring an emergency. Mayday, mayday, mayday." The air traffic controller asked the pilot to make a right turn and return to Dulles International Airport.
The plane had reached nearly 5,000 feet before the emergency was declared. To ensure a safer landing, the flight crew entered a holding pattern to dump fuel, reducing the aircraft’s weight. The aircraft circled for approximately 2 hours and 38 minutes while dumping fuel at about 6,000 feet.
Upon landing, fire and rescue teams inspected the aircraft, and all passengers deplaned normally without injury. The plane was towed off the runway because the left engine was disabled and unable to provide power for taxiing.
United Airlines confirmed that the flight returned to address a mechanical issue. The airline arranged alternate travel arrangements for customers to reach their destination as soon as possible. The incident caused no disruption to other flights at Dulles International Airport.
The emergency landing of United Airlines Flight 108 underscores the prompt and professional response of the flight crew and air traffic control to ensure passenger safety after a serious engine malfunction during a critical phase of flight.
Flightradar 24 data shows the flight departed at 6:11 p.m. ET and landed safely at Dulles around two hours later. The flight's final destination, Munich, Germany, was not reached, as the flight was canceled after landing at Dulles International Airport.
[1] Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority [2] United Airlines [3] Federal Aviation Administration [4] National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
After the emergency landing, United Airlines arranged alternative travel arrangements for the affected passengers, affecting the transportation industry. The finance department of United Airlines will likely bear the costs associated with this unexpected event. Meanwhile, the aviation industry will monitor the incident closely, as it highlights the importance of swift and safe responses during emergency situations, particularly in the critical phase of flight takeoff.
