Shannon, Ireland: United Airlines Flight UA509, a Boeing 767-400ER operating from Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO), Italy, to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), New Jersey, was forced to divert to Shannon Airport (SNN), Ireland, on July 11 after the flight crew reported right-engine vibrations and an unusual odor in the cabin while crossing the North Atlantic. The aircraft was carrying 227 passengers and crew, and all landed safely with no injuries.
The aircraft, registered N76065, departed Rome at 1:36 p.m. local time for the scheduled transatlantic service to Newark. Approximately three hours into the flight, while cruising at FL340 (34,000 feet) over the Atlantic and around 400 kilometres south of Ireland about 550 kilometres from Shannon Airport the pilots detected abnormal vibrations from the aircraft’s right General Electric CF6 engine. The crew also reported a noticeable smell inside the cabin, prompting them to discontinue the oceanic crossing and request an immediate diversion to Shannon, one of the primary diversion airports for North Atlantic flights.
According to reports, the affected engine remained operational but was reduced to idle thrust as a precaution. Air traffic controllers cleared the aircraft to divert, after which the crew descended from cruise altitude to facilitate the approach into Shannon. Because of the amount of fuel still onboard, the pilots advised they would be conducting an overweight landing, a procedure in which an aircraft lands above its normal maximum landing weight when an immediate landing is considered the safest course of action.
At Shannon Airport, emergency procedures were activated before the aircraft’s arrival. Airport authorities alerted their fire and rescue service after the crew requested emergency vehicles to be positioned alongside the runway.
The Boeing 767 landed safely on Runway 06 at approximately 3:57 p.m. local time after more than four hours in the air. Fire and rescue vehicles escorted the aircraft along the runway before it stopped briefly on a taxiway, where firefighters carried out a visual inspection of the right engine. Given the overweight landing, emergency personnel also examined the aircraft’s undercarriage and landing gear to ensure there was no overheating caused by the heavier-than-normal touchdown. Following the inspections, the aircraft taxied under its own power to the terminal while accompanied by emergency vehicles.
United Airlines confirmed that the diversion was carried out “to address an issue with one engine.” The airline said all 227 occupants disembarked safely without injury. Passengers were provided with hotel accommodation, compensation where applicable, and were rebooked on the next available flights to their destinations.
Flight tracking data showed the aircraft remained on the ground in Shannon following the incident while maintenance personnel conducted inspections to determine the cause of the reported engine vibrations and cabin odor. The remainder of Flight UA509 to Newark was cancelled. As of the latest available updates, aviation authorities had not released findings on the cause of the technical issue, and the aircraft continued to undergo maintenance evaluation before returning to service.
