What happened to United Flight 803 at Dulles Airport?

United Flight 803 experienced engine failure shortly after takeoff from Dulles, causing a brush fire near the runway and requiring an emergency landing.

Were there any injuries on the United 777 that landed at Dulles?

No, all 275 passengers and 15 crew members aboard the United Airlines Boeing 777 landed safely despite the engine failure.

Will the FAA investigate the engine failure at Dulles?

Yes, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration stated that it will investigate the engine failure incident that occurred during the departure of United Flight 803.

Home / Disasters and Accidents / Engine Failure Forces United 777 Back to Dulles

Engine Failure Forces United 777 Back to Dulles

14 Dec, 2025

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Summary

A United Airlines Boeing 777 experienced engine failure shortly after takeoff.
A brush fire ignited near the runway following the engine's power loss.
All 275 passengers and 15 crew members aboard the flight landed safely.

Engine Failure Forces United 777 Back to Dulles

A United Airlines Boeing 777 en route to Tokyo safely returned to Washington Dulles International Airport on Saturday after one of its engines failed shortly after takeoff. The engine malfunction led to a brush fire igniting near the runway, an event that required the aircraft to perform an emergency landing.

No injuries were reported among the 275 passengers and 15 crew members aboard the flight. The airline confirmed that the plane landed safely and that arrangements were being made to get passengers to their destination on a different flight. The affected runway experienced a brief closure but did not significantly impact overall airport operations.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration announced it would investigate the engine failure incident. Reports indicated that the aircraft maneuvered over a nearby area to dump fuel, a procedure to reduce weight for a safe emergency landing. The National Transportation Safety Board is also gathering information.