Los Angeles, United States: An United Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner bound for New Jersey was forced to make an emergency return to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Monday after its crew reported an engine fire shortly after takeoff, authorities and airline officials said.
United Flight UA2127 departed LAX at approximately 10:43 a.m. local time for Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) with 256 passengers and 12 crew members aboard. Moments after departure, the flight crew reported trouble with the aircraft’s left-hand engine and declared an emergency with air traffic control.
The Boeing 787-9, a twin-engine wide-body long-haul aircraft, began its return to LAX shortly before 11:00 a.m. and landed safely at 11:19 a.m. local time, according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advisories and flight tracking data.
As the aircraft approached its runway, emergency responders on the ground were alerted to reports of smoke or fire from one engine. Local fire crews, including the Los Angeles Fire Department, responded to contain the situation after landing. Video posted on social media showed plumes of dark smoke emanating from the affected engine on final approach.
Once on the ground, the cabin crew initiated an evacuation. Passengers exited via inflatable emergency slides and mobile stairs onto a taxiway off the runway, then were transported by buses to the terminal. Emergency services remained on site to monitor and extinguish any remaining flame or heat from the engine.
United Airlines confirmed in a statement that there were no serious injuries reported among passengers and crew. The FAA temporarily halted inbound flights to LAX for about 30 to 90 minutes following the incident, issuing a ground stop as emergency crews assisted on the scene. The ground stop was later lifted, though some incoming flights faced delays of up to 30 minutes.
The FAA has opened an investigation to determine the precise cause of the engine malfunction and the subsequent fire reports. At this time, no official cause has been confirmed by the airline or regulators. Federal authorities typically examine flight data, engine health parameters, and cockpit voice recordings in such incidents.
