ZURICH- A United Airlines (UA) Boeing 767-300 operating Flight UA12 from Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Chicago O’Hare (ORD) was forced to abort takeoff at high speed on June 24, 2025.
The aircraft, carrying 142 passengers and crew, came to a stop on Runway 16 after the flight crew initiated a rejected takeoff at approximately 145 knots. Emergency responders evacuated passengers safely, and the aircraft was removed from the runway nearly four hours later.
United Flight Aborts Takeoff
United Airlines Flight UA12, operated by a Boeing 767-300 (registration N684UA), was scheduled to depart Zurich Airport (ZRH) at 09:50 local time en route to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
During its takeoff roll on Runway 16, the flight crew executed a high-speed rejected takeoff at approximately 145 knots—well above the typical V1 threshold for aircraft of this type.
The aircraft came to a full stop just beyond the intersection with Runway 28. As a result of the hard braking, several main landing gear tires deflated. Passengers were evacuated via mobile stairs directly on the runway, with no injuries reported.
Initial communications between the flight crew and Zurich tower indicated that the pilots believed they could vacate the runway and continue with post-abort checklists. However, the tower instructed them to hold position due to the emergency response already mobilizing.
While United Airlines has not disclosed specific technical details, the airline confirmed to Swiss media outlet 20 Minuten that a “technical issue” prompted the rejected takeoff. A spokesperson stated the airline was actively rebooking affected passengers on alternate flights to minimize further delays.
The aircraft remained stationary on the runway for nearly four hours before being towed to a remote stand. Zurich Airport operations were briefly impacted, though air traffic resumed on alternate runways during the incident response.
Unusual Abort Above V1 Speed
Aborted takeoffs, while standard safety procedures, are typically executed below V1 speed—a critical decision point beyond which takeoff should generally proceed. For the Boeing 767-300, V1 speed usually falls below 140 knots, depending on weight and weather conditions.
According to Flightradar24 data, UA12’s abort occurred around 143–145 knots, placing it among the rare 2% of rejected takeoffs executed at or above 120 knots. Such high-speed aborts are only performed under exceptional circumstances, typically involving flight-critical system failures.
A formal investigation by Swiss aviation authorities and airline engineers is expected to follow.
Similar Incidents
An Emirates Airline (EK) flight scheduled to depart from Chennai International Airport (MAA) to Dubai International Airport (DXB) aborted takeoff on June 8, 2025, following a technical fault detected during taxiing.
Meanwhile, a United Airlines (UA) service from Wilmington International Airport (ILM) to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) was forced to halt its takeoff roll on May 24, 2025, after a complete engine shutdown occurred just before liftoff.
The Emirates (EK) Boeing 777 was preparing for departure at Terminal D1 in Chennai (MAA) when, at approximately 9:50 AM IST, pilots identified a system anomaly while taxiing. The flight crew immediately contacted air traffic control and requested to abort the takeoff for safety reasons.
Emergency response teams at Chennai Airport (MAA) promptly arrived on-site. The aircraft was safely towed back to its gate, where Emirates’ technical crew began diagnostics. Despite early troubleshooting efforts, the fault persisted. By 12:20 PM IST, the decision was made to cancel the flight, affecting all 312 passengers onboard.
In a separate incident two weeks earlier, United Airlines (UA) encountered a similar situation at Wilmington International Airport (ILM). The aircraft, already delayed by over five hours, initiated its takeoff roll when the pilots abruptly stopped the plane. Passengers later learned that one engine had failed, prompting a return to the gate and rescheduling of the flight to the next morning.
Safety Protocols and Emergency Response
Both incidents are categorized as rejected takeoffs (RTOs), a critical phase where flight crews must act decisively before reaching V1—the speed at which takeoff becomes irreversible. Aviation safety standards dictate that pilots must abort takeoff if any serious fault is identified before this threshold.
In the United Airlines (UA) incident, the captain reportedly cited a generator failure linked to essential hydraulic systems. While rare, such failures can stem from issues including:
- Compressor stalls
- Bird strikes
- Fuel system leaks
- Foreign object debris (FOD)
- Component detachment
- Fire or overheating in engine compartments
Aircraft involved in both incidents—widebody long-haul jets—are engineered to handle engine failures and include multiple system redundancies, ensuring passenger and crew safety under high-stress scenarios.
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