United 787 Engine Failure Prompts Safety Investigation

On July 25, 2025, United Airlines Flight UA108, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 219 passengers and 11 crew, declared a Mayday after suffering a critical left engine failure at 5,000 feet shortly after departing Washington Dulles for Munich. The pilots held at 6,000 feet for nearly 2 hours and 38 minutes to dump fuel and reduce weight, then safely landed back at Dulles using an Instrument Landing System approach. All passengers and crew were unharmed, and United arranged alternate travel for those affected. The aircraft had to be towed off the runway and remains grounded pending investigation. The incident comes weeks after a fatal Air India 787-8 crash, intensifying scrutiny of Dreamliner engine reliability. Authorities have launched a full investigation into the United Airlines incident amid industry-wide safety concerns.