A United Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Monday after an engine fire was reported. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, operating as Flight 2127, had departed for Newark, New Jersey, with 256 passengers and 12 crew members before turning back within an hour due to a left engine issue.
Approximately 180 passengers were evacuated via slides and airstairs, with some sustaining minor injuries. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the aircraft returned safely around 11:20 a.m. local time and that passengers deplaned on a taxiway. The FAA will investigate the incident.
The emergency prompted a temporary ground stop at LAX, with the FAA issuing an order grounding flights from several airports, including Denver, Salt Lake City, and Oakland, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. local time. Arrival delays of up to 30 minutes were reported.
This incident adds to a series of problems involving Boeing aircraft in recent years, including a mid-air hatch blowout and fatal crashes. In June 2025, a Boeing Dreamliner operated by Air India crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all but one of 242 people on board.
A United Airlines spokesperson stated that there were no reported injuries and that the airline is working to get customers to their final destinations. The FAA will conduct a full investigation into the engine issue.
