United flight returns to Washington after engine failure sparks fire
A United Airlines flight headed to Tokyo was forced to return to Washington Dulles after an engine failed during takeoff on June 1, 2024. The incident caused a brush fire near the runway but all 275 passengers and 15 crew members were unharmed. The plane, a Boeing 777-200ER, landed safely and was met by emergency responders. The US Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the event.
What we know
- The engine failure occurred shortly after takeoff from Washington Dulles on June 1, 2024, forcing United Flight 803 to turn back.
- A piece of the engine cover separated and caught fire, sparking a brush fire that was quickly extinguished.
- No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew, and the plane landed safely about an hour after departure.
- The affected runway was temporarily closed, but other airport operations at Dulles were not impacted.
- The flight later continued to Tokyo Haneda using a different aircraft, departing about six and a half hours after the original schedule.
