United airlines flight to Munich with 230 passengers declares ‘Mayday’ after engine fails midair, here’s what happened

A United Airlines flight bound for Munich made an emergency landing after experiencing a dramatic engine failure shortly after takeoff from Washington Dulles International Airport on Friday, July 25.

United Flight 108, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was carrying 219 passengers and 11 crew members when the pilot declared a “mayday” just minutes into the flight. The aircraft had reached an altitude of approximately 10,000 feet when the left engine failed, prompting the emergency call to air traffic control.

“Engine failure, left engine, United 108 declaring an emergency. Mayday, mayday, mayday,” Pilot of Flight 108, via air traffic audio logs


Controllers responded immediately, rerouting the jet back to Dulles. “There’s nobody between you and the field,” an air traffic controller calmly told the flight crew, providing a clear path back to the runway.

As part of the emergency protocol, the crew dumped fuel over a rural area about 16 kilometers west of the airport to safely reduce weight before landing. According to flight-tracking data, the jet landed safely at 8:33 pm, roughly 35 minutes after takeoff.

Airport emergency responders were already on standby. “The plane landed safely, was checked by Airports Authority Fire and Rescue personnel then towed to a gate,” said Crystal Nosal, spokesperson for Dulles Airport, in a statement to USA TODAY.

Despite the high-stakes situation, no injuries were reported. Passengers were calmly deplaned at the gate and later rebooked on alternative flights.

The airline has attributed the scare to a “mechanical issue.” The aircraft has been pulled from service for a full technical inspection. The exact cause of the engine failure remains under investigation.

This incident comes amid growing concerns over aviation safety in the US, with recent diversions involving Delta, Alaska Airlines, and others drawing attention to in-flight mechanical issues.