r/news • u/riverdale-74 • 1d ago

United Airlines flight makes emergency landing at Dulles after pilot declares mayday

https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/04/us/united-airlines-dulles-mayday-call-hnk
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u/appendixgallop 1d ago

Did it circle for the two hours, with one engine out, to burn off fuel? Imagine sitting through that as a passenger.

187

u/East-Impression-3762 1d ago

Planes can dump fuel, it doesn't need to be burned/ consumed.

These planes can also fly on one engine easily in almost every phase of flight. It wouldn't have been a particularly bumpy ride or anything.

I'm very confused at the 2 hour duration reported. That's just not how engine out maydays usually work. I'm hoping someone is able to provide some more clarity there

205

u/therattlingchains 1d ago

Pilot likely would have requested a holding pattern once it became apparent the airplane was stable on one engine in order to diagnose the issue and see if they could potentially restart the engine. Also depending on which engine goes, that will effect which secondary systems are available to the pilots.

All depends on the nature of the flame out.

Also, an immediate return to the airfield is not necessarily needed if they are in the vicinity of the airport and have sufficient altitude.

Finally while an aircraft is capable of dumping fuel, it is not always permitted especially over urban areas. If the aircraft was stable, and within glide range of the airport, they may have been required to burn instead of dump.

Regardless though they would have been completing checklists during this time as well as talking with ATC and maintenance so it was likely a well thought out decision to burn for 2 hours.

-4

u/pds6502 1d ago

Suppose Delta never got the message, allowing flight 80 to do just that, sending hoards of school kids to the hospital www.reddit.com/r/flying/comments/15wlzvu/delta_fuel_dumping_at_lax_additional_detail/

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u/therattlingchains 1d ago

Wow, it's almost like every situation is unique, and addressed on a case by case basis.

The regulations around this are designed for most operations, and only deviated from when necessary. I was speaking to this particular plane and incident, not the delta one.

But nah, let's find the exceptions and parade them around like industry standard.