Aircraft engine malfunctions occur relatively often, and they’re typically not a major concern. Nevertheless, here’s a case that appeared far more serious than it truly was, particularly as it ignited a minor fire on the ground.
In this article:
United flight from Washington to Tokyo experiences engine malfunction
This event took place on Saturday, December 13, 2025, involving United Airlines flight UA803, traveling from Washington Dulles (IAD) to Tokyo Haneda (HND). The flight was operated by a 27-year-old Boeing 777-200ER registered as N78004, carrying 290 individuals onboard, which included 275 passengers and 15 crew members.
Shortly following takeoff from runway 01C, at approximately 12:35 PM, the crew declared a “mayday,” having lost power in the left engine, and a section of the engine cover detached from the aircraft. The airplane continued ascending to 5,000 feet, entered a holding pattern, and subsequently dumped fuel to decrease its landing weight.
The aircraft returned to the airport about 45 minutes after its original departure.
In response to the event, United issued the following statement:
“Shortly after takeoff, United flight 803 returned to Washington Dulles and landed safely to address the power loss in one engine. No injuries have been reported. We’ve temporarily closed a United Club lounge at Dulles to assist our customers and facilitate their travel to their destinations. United appreciates our crews and the teams at Washington Dulles for their prompt response to ensure the safety of all involved.”
Remarkably, United managed to rebook all passengers for a same-day flight, quickly securing a spare aircraft and crew (as the original crew reached their maximum duty time). The replacement flight was scheduled to depart at 7:15 PM, approximately seven hours late. It is expected to arrive in Tokyo just before 11 PM, around six hours behind schedule. That’s commendable, all things considered!
This engine failure ignited a brush fire near the airport
The most intriguing part of this incident is that the aircraft’s engine failure seemingly ignited a brush fire on the ground adjacent to the airport. Naturally, any visible smoke near an airport is alarming, due to concerns that it might involve the aircraft.
It appears that a fragment of the engine cover detached from the plane and ignited, leading to a brush fire on the ground. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy took to social media to discuss this situation and mentioned that he was briefed on the matter.
While this may sound somewhat theatrical for a typical engine failure, I can understand the need to address it given the optics of smoke in proximity to an airport.
Bottom line
A United Boeing 777 departing Washington for Tokyo encountered an engine failure shortly after takeoff. While this would generally be an insignificant incident on its own, the detachment of a portion of the engine cover from the aircraft led to a brush fire on the ground.
Overall, United managed this incident effectively, with no injuries reported, and passengers arriving in Tokyo with only about a six-hour delay.
What are your thoughts on this United engine failure with an unexpected twist?