Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner declares mayday shortly after Washington takeoff

There were no injuries and the aircraft remained grounded as off Monday, July 28

Last updated: July 29, 2025 | 18:18

Nishitha Rachel, Assistant Social Media Editor

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Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner declares mayday shortly after Washington takeoff

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Dubai: A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner flight headed for Munich issued a ‘Mayday’ alert, soon after take-off, in Washington.

The incident occurred on July 25, when a United Airlines operated flight, UA108, declared ‘Mayday’ after its left engine malfunctioned at an altitude of 5,000 feet, soon after the plane took off. The crew declared an emergency and worked with air traffic control until they were able to land safely.

According to reports, the aircraft remained air bound to safely dump fuel before landing back at Washington Dulles Airport, for around 2 hours and 38 minutes. The aircraft maintained an altitude of 6,000 feet to manage the weight of the plane.

Also Read: Dubai Aerospace Enterprise buys 10 Boeing 737-9s - leases back to United Airlines

In co-ordination with the air traffic controllers, the aircraft safely discharged fuel and the pilots landed using an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach on Runway 19 Centre. The flight, which had to be towed off the runway due to the left engine, was grounded at the Airport as of July 28.

Fortunately, there were no injuries and the technical malfunctions is said to be investigated further by the authorities.

Also Read: Air India crash becomes first full loss of Boeing 787 Dreamliner

This incident comes one month after an Air India flight headed to London from Ahmedabad, India, crashed moments after taking off, killing around 260 people.

Nishitha RachelAssistant Social Media Editor

Nishitha serves as the Assistant Social Media Editor at Gulf News, where she skilfully orchestrates the publication's online presence. With a dedicated approach to engaging readers, she expertly manages all social media platforms and is a direct line for reader queries. Nishitha's journey in journalism began with a flourish in the entertainment beat, a world she continues to explore with enthusiasm. Her love for Korean culture shines through her reporting on UAE-based events, bringing the best of both worlds to her audience. A highlight of her career, and certainly a dream come true for any K-Pop enthusiast, was interviewing acclaimed Korean singers, including Chen from the globally renowned boy group, EXO.