A United Airlines Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was forced to make an emergency landing on July 25 after one of its engines failed shortly after takeoff from Washington Dulles International Airport. Flight UA108, carrying 219 passengers and 11 crew members bound for Munich, Germany, issued a “mayday” call minutes into its planned eight-hour journey when the aircraft’s left engine failed during the initial climb. The captain maintained an altitude of 6,000 feet to dump fuel and reduce the plane’s weight before returning to Dulles International Airport nearly three hours later. Aircraft often dump fuel before landing to ensure they meet maximum landing weight requirements. The aircraft was unable to taxi after landing and was towed from the runway. No injuries were reported. United Airlines said in a statement to The Independent that the aircraft was forced to return “to address a mechanical issue.” A spokesperson for the airline added: “The flight was subsequently cancelled, and we arranged alternate travel arrangements to take customers to their destination as soon as possible.” The incident comes just weeks after the tragic June 12 crash in Ahmedabad, India, which involved an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, and killed 260 people.
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