A United Airlines Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was forced to return to Washington Dulles Airport after experiencing a critical engine failure shortly after takeoff on July 25, 2025. The flight, designated UA108, was en route to Munich when the incident occurred, prompting the crew to declare a “MAYDAY” emergency.
The engine failure was reported just after the aircraft climbed to 5,000 feet. In response, the flight crew coordinated with air traffic control (ATC) to safely manage the emergency situation. The pilots maintained communication with controllers while preparing the aircraft for a safe return.
According to data from FlightAware, the aircraft remained airborne for approximately 2 hours and 38 minutes, flying in a holding pattern northwest of Washington. This allowed the crew to dump excess fuel and reduce the plane’s weight for a safe landing back at Dulles Airport.
The pilots reportedly requested to maintain an altitude of 6,000 feet while performing the fuel dump, as per aviation tracking sources. Thankfully, all passengers and crew landed safely without injuries.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns around aircraft engine reliability and has added to recent worries among air travelers amid increasing mid-air emergencies in 2025.