Washington, United States: A United Airlines Boeing 737-900 operating a scheduled domestic flight was forced to return to Washington Dulles International Airport after the flight crew reported a nose landing gear issue shortly after departure.
The incident involved United Airlines Flight 1535, which departed Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) for Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) on June 9, 2026. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the aircraft returned safely to Dulles after pilots reported a problem involving the nose landing gear.
FAA officials said the Boeing 737-900 landed safely at approximately 2:05 p.m. local time and confirmed that the agency will investigate the occurrence.
Flight tracking data showed that the aircraft departed Dulles at approximately 12:57 p.m. local time and remained airborne for more than an hour before returning to the airport.
United Airlines confirmed that the aircraft returned to Washington Dulles as a precaution to address the issue.
“The flight returned safely to the airport to address the issue, and we made arrangements to get customers to their destinations,” the airline said in a statement.
Emergency response teams were positioned as a precaution when the aircraft arrived back at the airport. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority confirmed that its fire and rescue personnel met the aircraft upon landing. The aircraft landed without incident and subsequently taxied to the gate under its own power.
Airport officials stated that the emergency return did not affect normal airport operations and that no injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
To minimize disruption, United arranged alternative travel options for affected passengers. Flight records indicate that another flight later departed Washington Dulles for Houston and completed the journey successfully.
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737-900, one of the largest variants of the 737 Next Generation family widely used on domestic routes throughout the United States.
The FAA investigation is expected to determine the precise cause of the reported nose landing gear issue and whether any mechanical, maintenance, or operational factors contributed to the event.
