A United Airlines flight intended for Tokyo had to make an unexpected return to Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia on Saturday afternoon due to an engine failure shortly after takeoff, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
According to a United spokesperson, the plane landed back at the airport after experiencing a loss of power in one of its engines. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported among the 275 passengers and 15 crew members onboard.
Social media posts on X depicted a scene of smoke emerging near the runway at Dulles, which is situated around 25 miles from Washington, D.C., making it the nearest international gateway to the U.S. capital.
The FAA has announced that it will conduct an investigation into the incident involving United Flight 803, which utilized a Boeing 777-200 aircraft. During the event, a portion of the engine cover detached and ignited, leading to a brush fire on the airport grounds. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed via X that the fire was promptly extinguished.
In response to the incident, United Airlines has planned to reschedule the flight for later on Saturday using a different aircraft. This incident underscores the robust safety protocols in place within the aviation industry, emphasizing the importance of quick and effective responses to technical failures.
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