A United Airlines flight departing Washington, DC for Tokyo was forced to make a return after reporting an engine problem on 21 June 2025.
United Airlines flight UA803, operated by a Boeing 777-200ER, had conducted a departure from runway 01R Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
The flight was a scheduled service bound for Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND).
United Airlines UA803 Washington-Tokyo
According to the online source Aviation Herald, flight crew reported one engine had badly overheated during the takeoff. As a result, and in-flight shutdown of the engine was carried out and the departure procedure was terminated.
Flight crew discontinued the climb procedure at 5000 feet and entered a holding procedures in the vicinity of the Washington airport.
The crew reportedly consulted with the airline dispatches to determine whether an overweight landing was appropriate. Following the holding procedure flight crew advised air traffic control that a normal landing would be carried out.
A return to the origin airport was made and an approach to runway 01R was conducted. The aircraft was able to land without further incident approximately one hour after its initial departure.
Flight crew vacated the active runway and was able to taxi aircraft to the apron hardstanding area. The airline mustered a replacement aircraft to carry out the scheduled UA803 rotation to Tokyo.
Flight Details
Flight data shows that the flight UA803 had made an initial departure from Washington Dulles International Airport at 1239 local time on 21 June.
Following departure, flight crew terminated the climb procedure at 5000 feet before entering holding procedures. The aircraft was subsequently returned to the origin airport, where it landed at 1405 local time.
Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The aircraft conducting the UA803 service to Tokyo Haneda Airport was a Boeing 777-200ER, registered N798UA. This is a 27.4 year old widebody aircraft belonging to the carrier United Airlines.
It has been operational service with the carrier since its initial delivery from the factory in February 1998.
