A United Airlines Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating flight UA108 from Washington Dulles to Munich, issued a “Mayday” distress call shortly after takeoff on July 25, following a critical engine failure.
The left engine of the aircraft reportedly malfunctioned at an altitude of approximately 5,000 feet, just minutes into the flight. The crew quickly notified air traffic control (ATC) and initiated emergency procedures, circling the region in a holding pattern for over two and a half hours to dump fuel safely before returning to land at Dulles Airport.
According to FlightAware data, the Dreamliner remained airborne for 2 hours and 38 minutes after the Mayday call was issued, ensuring a controlled descent and safe landing. There have been no reports of injuries, and all passengers and crew are safe.
This incident has occurred barely a month after a tragic crash involving an Air India Boeing 787-8, which went down near Ahmedabad, killing approximately 260 people. That incident marked the first fatal crash involving the Dreamliner model, heightening global scrutiny of the aircraft’s performance and maintenance protocols.
The United Airlines episode is the latest in a string of mid-air emergencies. Just days earlier, American Airlines Flight 3023 from Denver to Miami was evacuated after smoke was detected in the cabin. Passengers exited the aircraft via emergency slides after what the FAA described as a “possible landing gear issue,” later linked to a tire malfunction.
As per Aviation A2Z, pilots on UA108 coordinated with ATC to maintain separation from other traffic during the fuel dumping procedure, a necessary step for safe emergency landing due to the aircraft’s weight.
With investigations underway, aviation authorities are expected to assess potential patterns in engine-related emergencies on wide-body aircraft. United Airlines has not yet issued an official statement regarding the cause of the engine failure.
