A United Airlines flight bound for Tokyo turned back to Washington Dulles International Airport on Saturday afternoon after an engine failure shortly after departure, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
United said the aircraft returned safely after losing power in one engine during takeoff. No injuries were reported among the 275 passengers and 15 crew members onboard.
The plane landed without further incident, the airline said.
Images and video circulating on X showed smoke rising near the runway at Dulles, the main international airport serving the Washington, D.C., region, located about 25 miles from the city.
The visuals spread quickly, raising concerns before officials confirmed the situation was under control.
The FAA identified the aircraft as a Boeing 777-200 operating as United Flight 803 and said it has opened an investigation into the incident.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said a portion of the engine’s outer cover separated and ignited after hitting the ground, triggering a small brush fire near the runway.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said airport crews extinguished the fire promptly.
United said it plans to reschedule the Tokyo flight later Saturday using a different aircraft.
According to Beinsure analysts, the incident adds to growing scrutiny around widebody aircraft reliability, though early details suggest no systemic issue at this stage.
