CHICAGO- United Airlines (UA) flight UA1321 safely returned to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on Monday (April 28, 2025) due to a mechanical issue detected shortly after takeoff. The Boeing 777-200 aircraft was en route to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) with 362 passengers and 10 crew members.
In a separate incident, United Airlines (UA) flight UA1731 diverted to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) from its original route between Kona International Airport (KOA) and Denver International Airport (DEN). The Boeing 777-200 landed safely after the crew reported an open cargo door indication.
United Airlines 777 Emergency Landing
The first incident occurred when United flight UA1321 departed Newark around noon local time on Monday, April 28. Approximately 45 minutes into the flight, the crew detected a mechanical issue that necessitated a return to the departure airport.
Flight tracking data showed the aircraft circling over New Jersey for about an hour before safely landing at Newark around 1:30 p.m. local time.
United Airlines promptly arranged an alternative aircraft to transport the 362 passengers and 10 crew members to their Los Angeles destination.
A company spokesperson confirmed: “United Flight 1321 returned safely to Newark Liberty International Airport to address a possible mechanical issue. We have arranged for a different aircraft to take our customers to Los Angeles this afternoon.”
2nd Incident Involves Door Sensor Malfunction
In the early hours of the same day, United flight UA1731 experienced a separate technical problem while flying from Hawaii to Colorado.
The Boeing 777-200 was diverted to San Francisco International Airport around 3:45 a.m. local time after cockpit indicators signaled a potential issue with a cargo door.
The aircraft, carrying 360 passengers and 10 crew members, landed without incident. Similar to the Newark situation, United Airlines arranged an alternative aircraft to complete the journey to Denver.
The airline confirmed that the diversion was prompted by a malfunctioning door sensor rather than an actual door security breach.
FAA Investigation Underway
The Federal Aviation Administration has initiated investigations into both incidents involving the United Airlines Boeing 777-200 aircraft. Neither incident resulted in injuries to passengers or crew members, highlighting the effectiveness of safety protocols and crew training.
The FAA has not provided specific details about the nature of the mechanical issue on flight UA1321 or whether the problem was identified during takeoff or while the aircraft was airborne. Regarding flight UA1731, the investigation will focus on the cargo door indication system and its reliability.
Similar Incident
In March 2024, a United Airlines Boeing 777-300ER operating Flight UA830 from Sydney to San Francisco was forced to return to Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport due to a hydraulic system malfunction. The aircraft departed Sydney at 12:01 local time but declared an in-flight emergency shortly after takeoff.
The plane successfully landed back at Sydney Airport at 14:25 local time. Emergency responders were positioned on the tarmac to meet the aircraft upon its arrival. All 167 passengers disembarked safely with no reported injuries.
When contacted about the incident, a United Airlines representative described the situation to The Daily Mail as a “maintenance issue.” Reports circulating on social media platforms suggested the emergency was specifically caused by a hydraulic fluid leak, though the airline did not officially confirm these technical details.
United Airlines provided accommodations for affected travelers and rebooked all passengers on a replacement flight to San Francisco scheduled for March 12, 2024.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
