A dramatic mid-takeoff engine failure forced United Airlines Flight 803 to abort its Tokyo-bound journey and return safely to Washington Dulles International Airport yesterday, with the Boeing 777-200’s engine cover detaching and igniting a brief brush fire.
The Federal Aviation Administration is probing the incident, which involved no injuries among the 250 passengers and crew, but comes amid heightened scrutiny of US carrier safety records. United has rebooked all affected travellers.
