United Airlines pilot calls ‘Mayday’ as engine fails moments after takeoff for trans-Atlantic flight: audio

NY Post ^ | August 03, 2025 | Alex Oliveira

[KarlInOhio]

From F-16.net

A reader wrote us, retelling the story about the military pilot calling ATC for a priority landing because his single-engine jet fighter was running "a bit peaked." ATC told the fighter jock that he was number two behind a B-52 that had one shut down.

"Ah," the pilot remarked, "the dreaded seven-engine approach!"

[suthener]

Always impressive to hear competent people effectively communicating at the same level with a calm, methodical approach. No DIE detected, just a group of professionals handling a problem.

[NorthMountain]

Burning or dumping ... either way, the important point is a half hour of sustained flight ... too heavy to land ... on one engine.

Engine maintenance ... I just learned that GE (and probably the others) will send a team to the customer’s site for routine maintenance. Thank you.

In any case, my point stands. Boeing built a great aircraft.

[TexasGator]

“I am pretty sure engine maintenance is done by the engine manufacturer. “

You are sorely uninformed about United ...

[cymbeline]

“He was in the high and the mighty with John Wayne.”

The movie is mediocre, but the song is a masterpiece.

Lyrics begin with, “I was high and mighty. Then you came like a gentle flame and helped me to find my way ...”.

The music, though, is the real harmonic masterpiece.

[TexasGator]

“and revenue for the mfg is in maintenance.”

United Technical Operations

9,700+ maintenance technicians

Engines

Pratt & Whitney
PW2000
PW4056
PW4060
PW4077
PW4090

CFM International
CFM56-7B
CF6-80C2

LEAP
General Electric
GE90
GEnx

Rolls-Royce
RB211

International Aero Engines AG
V2500

[Drew68]

The aircraft flew in circles for HALF AN HOUR burning down a full load of fuel ... ON ONE ENGINE.

I'm sure they were dumping it over the ocean. It takes a lot of time to drain fuel tanks that have been topped off for a transatlantic flight.

Most don't realize that an airplane full of fuel greatly exceeds its max landing weight.

Think about this the next time you're headed down the runway at full throttle preparing to take off. After a certain speed, there's no turning back. The aircraft is simply too heavy to do anything other than get airborne or crash into a giant fireball.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

"Captain Steeeve" did a great YT video on the failed #2 (right) engine on a Frontier flight departing Philadelphia. He said the pilots, ATC, and fire crews on the ground did a textbook A+ job all the way around. Everybody was cool, calm, collected and very professional.

He said "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday" is the internationally recognized distress call, but in the USA pilots still sometimes use "Declare an emergency" to notify ATC.

His take is worth a listen: Pilots Shut Down Engine Mid-Flight - Frontier A320 Returns to Philadelphia

He said that a Lufthansa transatlantic flight went FIFTEEN minutes eastbound over the ocean after a problem alarm went off. He was amazed they did not immediately turn around.

I'm sure "Captain Steeeve" will review this UA 108 Dulles-Munich flight in the future.

[Clay Moore]

Mayday? Why, that’s the Russian New Year. We’ll have a big parade. We’ll serve hot hors d’oeuvres

[Red Badger]

😂🤣😂🤣😎..............................

[GreenHornet]

one of its engines failed moments after taking off for a trans-Atlantic flight.

Over Macho Grande?

[Red Badger]

I’ll never get over Macho Grande.....................

[af_vet_1981]

Concur with the thrust of the comment and think that anonymity gives folks the latitude to write things without deep thought or knowledge. I will wait for further news as to why the one engine failed but rejoice the pilot and crew brought the plane back safely. I think the Dreamliner is a better plane that its competition.

[rlmorel]

I largely agree with your post. Boeing has done damage to itself with its own practices, but this is not one of those, IMO.

[Vigilanteman]

United officials told People the plane suffered a “mechanical issue,” but did not elaborate.

OK. I have to ask why? Maybe too much DEI in their hiring practices?

[Seaplaner]

Boeing makes quality products, and I always prefer that mfg.

Boeing does not make engines and the carrier is responsible for maintenance.

Max takeoff weight is typically higher that max landing weight for most aircraft.

BTW, I've been through a couple of engine failures (both single engine.)

One was my instructor's C210, the other was a friend's Bonanza. In both cases, the mlf occurred below 1000 ft agl, and in both cases, we got the engine re-started ~ 100 ft agl.

I learned much about emergency re-starts (and thereafter carefully rehearsed my re-start actions before every flight of which I was PIC.)

[Mastador1]

Really, that’s what you got? Boeing doesn’t manufacture or maintain engines.

[Red Badger]

Always pack extra underwear.................

[NorthMountain]

Maybe too much DEI in their hiring practices?

Funny you should mention that ... for some time back in the Biden Regime, United was bragging on developing the most "diverse" stable of pilots. Didn't fill me with confidence ... they never said anything about "diversity" in maintenance. I bet they had the same plan there, though.

[SuperLuminal]

Wonder if anybody on board thought to check the passengers’ average blood pressure while circling around burning up excess fuel...