Boston-bound United Airlines flight declares emergency, returns to Washington

A United Airlines flight from Washington Dulles International Airport to Boston has made a precautionary return to Washington today, after declaring an emergency.

United Airlines flight UA688 Washington – Boston

United Airlines flight UA688, a Boeing 737 operating a scheduled service from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) declared a general emergency and made a return to Washington on September 18.

Flight track of United Airlines flight UA688 from Washington to Boston, showing return to Boston. — Source: RadarBox

Departure & Diversion Washington

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Flight data shows that United flight UA688 departed from IAD at 17:33 EDT on the evening of September 18. The flight then proceeded on the north-easterly track for Boston, climbing to FL290 (29,000 feet).

As the flight transitted New Jersey airspace, it commenced a turnaround whilst approaching Atlantic City and initiated a return track for the departure airport IAD.

Emergency declaration

As the aircraft descended below 10,000 in the early stages of its approach, it declared an emergency as it passed abeam Baltimore, squawking transponder code 7700.

According to the online account Flight Emergency, the aircraft experienced an engine surge, resulting in the precautionary return and subsequent emergency declaration.

The flight subsequently landed at IAD at 18:38 EDT, having been in the aircraft for just over one hour. The aircraft operating the flight was a Boeing 737-924ER, registered N68801; a ten-year old narrowbody airplane belonging to the carrier United Airlines.