United Airlines Flight Returns to Dulles After Engine Failure During Takeoff

A United Airlines flight bound for Tokyo returned safely to Washington Dulles International Airport on Saturday after experiencing an engine failure shortly after takeoff. The Boeing 777-200 aircraft, operating as Flight 803, departed Dulles around 12:35 p.m. with 275 passengers and 15 crew members on board. Shortly after departure, the aircraft lost power in one engine, prompting the crew to return to the airport. The plane landed without incident at approximately 1:20 p.m., and no injuries were reported among those on board.

During the takeoff, a piece of the engine cover separated and caught fire, igniting a small brush fire near the runway. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority confirmed that the fire was quickly extinguished by airport fire responders.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced an investigation into the incident. United Airlines stated that a replacement aircraft would be used to continue the flight to Tokyo later the same day.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy acknowledged the incident on social media, noting that a piece of the engine cover had separated and caught fire, leading to the brush fire on the ground.

The FAA's investigation aims to determine the cause of the engine failure and assess any necessary safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.