A United flight departing Chicago for San Jose del Cabo, Mexico returned for an emergency landing in Chicago after flight crew reported a fire in the cockpit on 12 February 2025.
United Airlines flight UA1879, operated by a Boeing 737-800, had conducted a departure from runway 09C Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
The aircraft was performing a scheduled flight bound for San Jose Los Cabos International Airport (SJD).
United Airlines Emergency Landing Chicago (ORD)
Following departure, flight crew terminated the climb procedure at FL270 after reporting the presence of a fire in the cockpit. As a result, the crew elected to make a precautionary return to Chicago O’Hare.
Following a series of manoeuvres, the flight was able to land without further incident on runway 10L, approximately 30 minutes after the climb was terminated.
According to the online source Aviation Herald, the flight crew advised the breakout of a fire in the captain’s windshield area. This appeared to have subsequently burned out. Upon arrival in Chicago, the flight crew requested an external check to determine any external visible evidence of a fire.
Upon an inspection, emergency services reported that there was no external evidence of a fire.
Aircraft Details
A subsequent report by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the United Airlines emergency landing.
“United Airlines Flight 1879 returned safely to Chicago O’Hare International Airport around 10:20 a.m. local time on Wednesday, February 12, after the pilot reported a possible fire in the flight deck. The Boeing 737-800 was headed to Los Cabos, Mexico. The FAA will investigate.”
The conducting the UA1879 service to San Jose was a Boeing 737-800, registered N17244. This is a 25.4 year old narrow body aircraft belonging to the carrier United Airlines.
It has been operational service with the airline since October 2010. Prior to its current service it was operated by Continental Airlines since its initial delivery in November 1999.
Click the banner to subscribe to our weekly newsleter.
Click the photo to join our WhatsApp channel so then you can stay up to date with everything going on in the aviation industry!
