Technical probe launched into cause of engine failure
New Delhi,29 Jul. 25
A United Airlines Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner experienced a serious mid-air emergency last week after suffering a critical engine failure shortly after takeoff. The incident occurred on July 25, when Flight UA108, bound for Munich, was climbing out of Washington Dulles Airport on its scheduled transatlantic route. At an altitude of around 5,000 feet, the aircraft’s left engine malfunctioned, prompting the flight crew to declare a “MAYDAY” emergency and coordinate closely with air traffic controllers.
According to data from FlightAware, the aircraft remained airborne for 2 hours and 38 minutes, flying in a holding pattern northwest of Washington to safely dump fuel and reduce its landing weight. During this time, the pilots maintained an altitude of 6,000 feet, as advised by air traffic control (ATC), which helped guide the plane and ensure it remained safely separated from other air traffic while discharging fuel.
Once fuel dumping was complete, the crew requested an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach and successfully landed on Runway 19 Centre at Washington Dulles Airport. However, due to the disabled left engine, the aircraft was unable to taxi on its own and had to be towed off the runway. As of Monday, the plane was still grounded at the airport. Fortunately, there were no reports of crew or passenger injuries. To find out what caused the engine failure, United Airlines and aviation authorities are anticipated to look into the technical issue.
