- By Supratik Das
- Tue, 29 Jul 2025 02:27 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A major mid-air drama unfolded when a United Airlines Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner issued a "Mayday" call just minutes after taking off from Washington Dulles International Airport because of a severe engine malfunction. The incident took place on July 25 during Flight UA108's routine flight to Munich, Germany. The crisis occurred only minutes from takeoff when the plane, which was carrying passengers on a transatlantic flight, experienced a serious failure in its left engine at 5,000 feet. Reacting swiftly to the crisis, the flight crew made a "Mayday" call to air traffic control and initiated emergency procedures.
As per FlightAware data, the Dreamliner was in the air for 2 hours and 38 minutes, circling northwest of the Washington area in a holding pattern. This time was used to dump fuel, a standard safety procedure to reduce landing weight during emergencies. Pilots coordinated closely with air traffic controllers to maintain an altitude of 6,000 feet, ensuring safe separation from other aircraft while jettisoning fuel over a designated zone. After successfully reducing the aircraft’s weight, the crew initiated an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach to Runway 19C.
Safe Landing, Disabled Aircraft Towed from Runway
The plane made a controlled landing at Washington Dulles Airport without injuries. But due to the disabled engine, the Dreamliner was unable to taxi under its power and had to be towed off the runway by ground support vehicles. Everyone on board the plane and the flight crew were safe, and no one was injured. The incident received commendations for the crew's response to pressure and professionalism.
As of Monday, the Boeing 787-8 remains grounded at Washington Dulles. United Airlines confirmed that the matter is being reviewed in coordination with aviation authorities, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The airline is expected to conduct a comprehensive investigation to determine the root cause of the engine failure. “Safety is our top priority, and we are cooperating fully with all regulatory bodies,” a United spokesperson said.
Similarities Drawn to Air India Dreamliner Crash in Ahmedabad
The series of events has made comparisons with the tragic Ahmedabad Air India plane crash that used a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. In that accident, a flight bound for the home country experienced engine failure after takeoff, leading to a fatal crash that claimed the lives of 241 crew members on board and 19 ground workers. Although the United Airlines incident ended without victims, this incident underscores the significance of redundancy mechanisms and highly trained flight crews in handling in-flight crises.