United Airlines flight bound for Japan grounded in San Francisco with engine issues

SF Chronicle ^ | 3.18.2024 | Aidin Vaiziri

[libh8er]

A United Airlines flight bound for Japan had to return to the gate at San Francisco International Airport on Monday due to a mechanical issue with the plane.

The incident marks at least the 10th of its kind involving the U.S. airline in the past two weeks.

Flight UA35 was scheduled to depart for Osaka at 12:05 p.m. After taxiing on the runway for more than an hour, the plane — a Boeing 777-200ER — returned to the gate, and passengers and crew deplaned around 1:45 p.m.

Belinda Pitco, a passenger onboard the flight, told the Chronicle that the pilot announced that “the right engine is not working,” without offering any additional information.

A spokesperson for United Airlines said in a statement, “We don’t have details to share right now.” They also provided a link to a website for passengers to monitor the flight’s status.

A message there read, “Our maintenance team needs more time to service your plane. Right now, we’re expecting a 4:30pm departure. If this changes, we’ll keep you updated. We apologize for this travel disruption and appreciate your continued patience.”

[House Atreides]

“ We are being played.”
**********************

I don’t doubt that a bit.

[blackdog]

That's called engine run-up before departure. If anything reads in error or invalid range, the plane returns to the gate and the pax get off. It's supposed to be the process.

The level of informed reporting in this country is about zero. That's on purpose too. Uninformed crap reporting is easier to spew 24/7/365.

Boeing has a rare opportunity for discounted stock buybacks and big fat defense contracts which will come as a reward for their trouble and silence.

[Noumenon]

Fly the Affirmative Action skies.

[blackdog]

https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4785397/user-clip-pelosi-explains-the-wrap-smear

[dragnet2]

How many times a day do they abort or cancel departure take offs for mechanical issues while the aircraft is on the runway, preparing to take off?

If anything reads in error or invalid range, the plane returns to the gate and the pax get off. It's supposed to be the process.

I would certainly hope returning to the gate would be the procedure. Btw, so how often does this happen. There must be statistics.

[Political Junkie Too]

After taxiing on the runway for more than an hour...

I think I see the problem.

-PJ

[dragnet2]

Btw, if I’d been a passenger on board an aircraft that had been taxiing or sitting on the tarmac for an hour, waiting to take off, and suddenly they cancel the flight and return to the terminal due to a bad engine, I’d be thinking it was my lucky day. Good day to buy a lotto ticket.

[llevrok]

I used to take that flight 4 or 5 times a year. It was a 747 in my day. 4 engines are better than 2

[ponygirl]

ALL. THE. FREAKING. TIME. I’m a former flight attendant with 10 years on the line. My father retired as a 767 Captain with 33 years. HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, but it doesn’t get news coverage because they didn’t previously want the airlines to collapse and be nationalized like Amtrak.

[citizen]

The Boeing-United hookup is gettiing dodgier by the day.

Boeing airliner + United maintenance = fault issues.

[dragnet2]

If aircraft flights are being cancelled for serious issues, “All the time” at the last minute just prior to take offs, maybe they should go out of business. Engine failures during take off at low altitudes can lead to death for all.

[nutmeg]

I have a good friend that works in engine maintenance for United at SFO. He’s no fool, he’s a fanatical high-end mechanic, and he hasn’t mentioned any DEI nonsense when he talks about work.

That's good to hear, but he's just at SFO. What about United's maintenance in the rest of the world though?

I wouldn't get on a United flight these days if you paid me.

[volare737]

Yes they are cancelled “all the time”. It it simply precautionary. It is called an over abundance of caution.

The vast majority of the time, they are not cancelled, though, but the flight is just switched to a different aircraft. That is precisely why flying is the still the safest mode of transportation by far.

[Fido969]

Planes have mechanical issues. If they find them before they start, things are working as they should. If things start breaking during the flight, that’s a problem.

[EQAndyBuzz]

I think I am done with air travel. Hated it from the get go. Now, I am being charged extra for seating, charged for bags, charged for preferential seating and I am just waiting on having to swipe a credit card on the restroom door to use the head. Food at the airport has more than doubled in the last year or so and connections are horrible with long waits in between.

For what it’s worth, I would much rather take my car, add a couple of days to my trip and enjoy the scenery.

[NorthMountain]

Even DIEversity pilots know that taking off with one engine out is a bad idea ...

[bgill]

Another day, another intentional oopsie.

[roving]

You could’ve just skipped the story.

[Neverlift]

Gravity works every time I use it. Therefore it is important to make sure the aircraft works every time I use it.

[norwaypinesavage]

" I would much rather take my car, add a couple of days to my trip and enjoy the scenery."

Enjoy!

Just remember, though, that there are more deaths per mile travelled in cars than there are in commercial airplanes.