7 godzin temu
WASHINGTON— A United Airlines (UA) flight bound for Germany declared an emergency shortly after takeoff from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) on July 25, 2025. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as Flight UA108, was en route to Munich Airport (MUC) when it suffered a left engine failure and was forced to return.
Flight UA108 was climbing out of Washington Dulles on its scheduled transatlantic journey to Munich when the crew declared a MAYDAY due to an engine malfunction. The aircraft circled in a holding pattern to dump fuel before making a safe emergency landing back at IAD.
Photo: Clément AlloingUnited Flight UA108 Engine Failure
Shortly after departure, at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the flight crew of UA108 reported a failure in the left engine and declared an emergency.
Real-time ATC communication confirmed the urgency as the crew repeated “Mayday” and coordinated with controllers to stabilize the situation.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (Registration: N27901) requested vectors for fuel dumping while maintaining altitude and entered a holding pattern northwest of Washington.
During this time, the pilots communicated fuel weight management needs, requesting a climb to 6,000 feet. Controllers provided multiple headings to ensure safe separation from other air traffic and to allow the aircraft to safely discharge fuel.
Once the dump was complete, the crew requested vectors for an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach to Runway 19 Center at Dulles. Upon landing, the aircraft taxied off the runway but required a tow due to the disabled left engine.
The aircraft is still on the ground at Washington Dulles Airport as of 1:38 PM UTC, July 28, 2025.
Photo: FlightRadar24United Pilot and ATC Comms
Here’s the Detailed ATC Conversation between the United Flight UA108 pilot and Washington Dulles ATC, as flagged by You can see ATC:
{ts:19}
ATC: United 91Z heavy, passing 1 for 3000 heavy, contact, maintain 500.
Pilot: 5000, United 18 heavy, 1 heavy, maintain 11000, heading 34, 10000, heading 34Z, and on 18 heavy.
{ts:46}
ATC: One heavy, you’re up to 1,000. Verify.
Pilot: Failure. Engine failure. Left engine, United 18, declaring an emergency.
{ts:55}
Pilot: Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.
ATC: Heavy, roger that, sir. Are you able to make your way in, in fact, into the field at this time? You can turn right heading 10 if able.
{ts:61}
Pilot: Right turn to 10, United 18 heavy.
{ts:67}
ATC: I’m going to keep you going with that one at 6000…
{ts:80}
Pilot: Okay, we’re level at five. We’d like to just stay here, heavy. Say again, please.
{ts:89}
ATC: Right turn 100, heavy. Roger, sir. Right turn 100. You can expect any runway, really. 19 Center work?
Pilot: Yeah, 19 Center will work, United 18 heavy. Thanks very much, heavy, if you could one more time, please…
{ts:109}
Pilot: Left engine failure. 1—that’s souls on board 10, about 5 hours of flight time.
{ts:118}
ATC: Heavy, roger that. Would you like to stay at 5,000 to get a bit closer, or would you like to…
Pilot (interrupting): Have me starting? You’re on final, United 18 heavy. Good job, sir, that’s—if there’s anything I can do, again… setting up for the ILS.
{ts:144}
ATC: 19 Center, 1 heavy, clear to village, turn right heading 16, 19 Center.
{ts:157}
Pilot: 160 to 19 Center, we’re working on a checklist for now, so we may—we might need to hold.
ATC: Okay. Just advise, sir, speed at your discretion. If I need to take you back out for another loop, that’s perfectly fine. Just let me know what I can do for you.
Pilot: Okay, we’ll let you know.
{ts:186}
Pilot: Departure, 91Z, 108 heavy, we’re going to need to take a few laps in a holding.
ATC: No problem, flyway maintain 5000.
{ts:208}
ATC: How much estimated—how much time do you need to hold, fuel or just get set up there?
Pilot: Yeah, we may have to climb to six and adjust fuel, we’re talking about that right now.
{ts:228}
Pilot: Like to climb 5,000 for 6,000 heavy.
ATC: No problem, climb and maintain 6,000.
{ts:237-254}
ATC: What we’re going to do is take you straight out a few more miles and get you out to the west. We’re keeping everybody clear of you so you’re not in the way.
Pilot: Okay, we’ll stand by, tell us to commence; it’ll take us about 6 minutes to adjust weight.
{ts:268}
ATC: United heavy, vector for your hold, turn right heading 280. We’re going to hold you north of the field; when you’re ready to proceed in straight in, notify.
Pilot: Copy that, just tell us when we’re in a good place to adjust weight.
{ts:304}
ATC: Heavy, contact approach on 124.5. We’re all on the same page plan here, and we’ll get you where you need to be.
{ts:320}
Pilot: Good day, United 18 aircraft is with you, 6,000 right. Good evening.
ATC: Turn right heading 330, heading now 30, United 1 heavy.
{ts:340-352}
Pilot: Understand United 91Z heavy is cleared—this a good area to adjust?
ATC: One right, heavy. Are you able to wait about 60 seconds or now?
Pilot: Okay, that’s fine, we can wait to start about 60 seconds.
ATC: United heavy, start at your discretion.
{ts:364}
Pilot: Fuel dumping in progress, west, north at 6000.
{ts:375}
ATC: Heavy 787, just for planning after the dump for about 6 to 10 minutes, are you ready to head in, or do you need more time after that?
Pilot: We’ll be ready for vectors to final for 19 Center.
{ts:401-415}
Pilot: Not quite complete yet, got about probably two more minutes.
{ts:422}
ATC: If you want, go heading 020 for now, let me know when complete.
Pilot: 020 for now, we’ll let you know; in about five minutes the dump will be complete.
{ts:438-451}
ATC: Which direction of turn is easier for you, right or left?
Pilot: Right turns are easier, that’s our good measure.
ATC: Copy, I’ll leave you on the 020 heading.
{ts:460}
ATC: I’ll be able to turn you in about two and a half… get you right in.
Pilot: Excellent, thank you.
{ts:475-493}
ATC: If you’re able, clean speed please.
Pilot: If we can get slower, that’ll be better.
ATC: Turn right, speed at your discretion, keep you just on the west side of the weather.
{ts:508}
ATC: Dumping correct, one more minute.
{ts:519}
ATC: Heavy, contact on 134.9, have a great night.
Pilot: Thanks for your help, 134.9, 108 heavy, emergency aircraft with you, 6000.
{ts:532}
ATC: 108 heavy, welcome, understand you guys want to stay at the block altitude for now? Was it 4 through 6?
Pilot: Yeah, just give me 6 for one more minute, United 108 heavy.
{ts:553}
ATC: Maintain 6,000 ft, speed your discretion. Let me know if you need anything.
Pilot: Okay, we’re slowing down to approach speed, expecting 19 center; we’ll be ready for a descent in about 1 minute.
ATC: Roger, just advise.
{ts:570-576}
Pilot: 108 ready for lower.
ATC: You’re about 7 miles from Cadmin, cross at 5,000, cleared ILS 19 Center.
Pilot: 5,000, cleared for the ILS 19 Center.
{ts:586}
ATC: 108 heavy, speed at your discretion, contact tower 34.42.
Pilot: 34.42, 108 heavy, emergency aircraft with you, 19 Center.
{ts:615-620}
Tower (ATC): United 108 heavy, Dulles Tower, wind 190 at 3, Runway 19 Center, cleared to land.
Pilot: Cleared to land, 19 Center. We’ll be able to exit the runway, but we’ll be getting a tow back heavy.
Tower: Roger, wind check on the ground, United 108 heavy. Thank you.
{ts:666-673}
Tower/ATC: United 108 heavy, emergency, roger. When you counter stop, enable and lower to alert frequency 123.76…
Photo: JFK SpottingBottom Line
United Airlines Flight UA108 experienced a critical engine failure moments after departure from Washington Dulles International Airport.
Quick action by the pilots and seamless support from air traffic control ensured a controlled emergency return, highlighting aviation safety systems at work.
No injuries were reported, and the incident is expected to be investigated further by the airline and relevant aviation authorities.
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