United Airlines flight declares ‘Mayday’ after engine failure, returns safely

On July 25, United Airlines Flight 108—a Boeing 787 Dreamliner carrying 219 passengers and 11 crew—departed Washington Dulles International Airport en route to Munich. Minutes into its ascent, at about 5,000 feet, the left engine malfunctioned, prompting the pilot to declare an emergency with the radio transmission:

Air traffic control immediately gave clearance for a return, stating:

Because the aircraft was fully fueled for the transatlantic flight, it was initially too heavy to land safely. The crew circled for roughly 30 minutes to burn off or jettison fuel—an approved procedure for aircraft like the Dreamliner—before safely touching down back at Dulles.

Fire and rescue teams inspected the plane upon landing, and United Airlines confirmed that all passengers and crew deplaned normally. The flight was cancelled and passengers were booked onto alternate flights later, according to airline officials. No injuries were reported.

CNN reported that flight‑tracking data logged the flight’s departure around 6:11 p.m. ET, with the plane circling and landing approximately 30 minutes later in a controlled manner. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority clarified that the incident did not disrupt other aircraft operations.

The FAA has launched an investigation into the mechanical failure. Experts noted that modern twin‑engine aircraft like the 787 are certified to fly on a single engine if necessary, and crews undergo rigorous training to handle these emergency situations calmly.

This incident echoes a similar event on July 18 involving a Delta Air Lines flight near Los Angeles. While such events may stir public concern, aviation specialists emphasise that these cases are isolated, not indicative of systemic safety issues.