A United Airlines flight scheduled for Tokyo was compelled to return to Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia shortly after takeoff on Saturday afternoon due to engine failure, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The airline’s representative confirmed that the Boeing 777-200 aircraft lost power in one of its engines shortly after departure. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported among the 275 passengers and 15 crew members on board.
Witnesses on social media shared photographs and videos showcasing smoke rising near the runway at Dulles, approximately 25 miles (40 km) from Washington, D.C., which serves as the closest international airport to the nation’s capital.
The FAA announced that it will launch an investigation into this incident involving United Flight 803. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy noted that a section of the aircraft’s engine cover detached and caught fire, leading to a brush fire on the airport grounds; however, the situation was quickly contained by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which reported that the fire was extinguished without further incidents.
United Airlines confirmed that the flight will be rescheduled for later that same day with a different aircraft. This incident highlights the airline’s commitment to safety, as well as the swift response of emergency teams at Dulles Airport.