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United Airlines Boeing 787 Declares Mayday Over Engine Failure After Washington Takeoff
United Airlines Flight UA108, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner departing Washington Dulles for Munich, experienced a critical engine malfunction mere minutes after takeoff on July 25, 2025. Pilots quickly declared a “Mayday” emergency and coordinated with air traffic control for a safe return.
At about 5,000 feet, the left engine failed, prompting swift action. “Climb six and adjust fuel,” one of the pilots radioed, as the plane was directed into a holding pattern at 6,000 feet to safely dump fuel before landing. The process lasted nearly two and a half hours, with the crew ensuring the aircraft’s weight was below the maximum landing threshold.
Air Traffic Control cleared other traffic, maintaining a crucial safe buffer during the emergency. Once fuel was jettisoned, UA108 was vectored for an Instrument Landing System approach to Runway 19 Center. The Dreamliner landed without injuries but required a tow to clear the runway due to its disabled left engine. All 220 passengers and crew disembarked safely, though the aircraft remains grounded at Dulles pending investigation.
Federal aviation authorities have launched an inquiry. A United spokesperson stated, “Safety was our number one priority and our crew acted with utmost professionalism to ensure a safe outcome.” The incident follows renewed concerns regarding the Dreamliner’s manufacturing record, which has drawn regulatory scrutiny but boasts a historically strong safety record.
In the words of local resident Lena Foster, “You have to respect the skill of those pilots — I can’t imagine what those passengers went through.” For many, last Friday night’s emergency was a heart-stopping reminder of the stakes in modern air travel: professionalism, preparedness, and luck — all must align at thirty thousand feet.