An engine failure forced a Boeing 777 en route to Tokyo to make an emergency landing in Washington.
Dec 14, 2025, 05:59Dec 14, 2025, 05:59
None of the 275 passengers and 15 crew members on board were injured. However, a fire broke out near the runway.
A United Airlines plane was affected. (symbol image)Image: keystone
As the US airline United Airlines announced, the 777-200ER aircraft had to cancel a flight to Tokyo shortly after takeoff on Saturday and return to the US capital’s international airport because an engine failed.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on the online service This caused a “bush fire on the ground”.
The aircraft part started a fire next to the runway.Image: x
The fire was extinguished and the aircraft was also checked by the airport fire department after the emergency landing, the airport said. The affected runway was closed briefly, but all other aircraft were able to take off and land as planned. The passengers on United Airlines Flight 803 were rebooked on another flight to Tokyo.
Investigation should clarify incident
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced an investigation. The US traffic safety authority NTSB also said it got involved. The aircraft manufacturer Boeing asked to contact United Airlines upon request.
According to a report by aviation website Airlive, the plane was forced to dump fuel after the incident over Fredericksburg, Virginia, to lighten the plane’s weight before making an emergency landing. (sda/afp)