A United Airlines Boeing 787 aircraft, carrying 230 people, made an emergency landing at Washington Dulles International Airport after the pilot reported engine failure shortly after takeoff. The plane, bound for Munich, Germany, was forced to return due to a suspected mechanical issue.
The flight took off at 8 p.m. and initially faced no issues, but minutes into its ascent, the pilot declared an emergency. Mayday calls signal distress or urgency when an issue occurs on board an aircraft.
Air traffic control advised the pilot to head towards the airport by turning right. The plane successfully landed safely about 30 minutes after takeoff, with passengers deplaning normally at the gate. United Airlines has confirmed that there was no disruption to other flights and arranged for alternative travel arrangements to reach their destination.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/04/us/united-airlines-dulles-mayday-call-hnk