A United Airlines B777-200 bound for Washington made a precautionary return to London due to a technical issue on 3 September 2024.
United Airlines flight UA919, a Boeing 777-200 outbound to Washington Dulles International Airport elected to turnaround prior to the transatlantic crossing.
United UA919 London-Washington
According to the online source Flight Emergency, and engine bleed system issue prompted the flight crew’s decision to return to the origin airport.
The flight was on track and had passed abeam Cork in Irish airspace when the turnaround was initiated. The aircraft then made good a direct track for London Heathrow Airport. It entered a brief holding procedure of the Welsh coast, possibly for the purposes of fuel dumping.
The flight then continued to London Heathrow (LHR). The diversion and return was conducted under normal operating procedures and the flight did not declare a formal emergency.
Flight Details
Flight data shows that United flight UA919 had made an on-time departure out of London Heathrow at 1221 local time on 3 September. The flight had set course normally, and had climbed to cruising altitude FL340 (34,000 feet) before making the turn around.
The aircraft conducting the UA919 long-haul service to Washington (IAD) was a Boeing 777-200ER, registered N79011. This is a 25.2-year-old wide-body aircraft belonging to the carrier United Airlines. It has been an operational service with the airline since October 2010.
Prior to that it operated with merger airline partner Continental Airlines since its initial delivery from the factory in June 1999.
The engine bleed air system is primarily responsible for powering the cabin pressurization. Bleed air is a portion of compressed air extracted from the compressor section of a jet engine. This high pressure air is then filtered, cooled, and regulated before being distributed throughout the aircraft to perform various functions, including:
- Cabin pressurization: The primary use of bleed air is to maintain a comfortable cabin pressure at high altitudes.
- Air conditioning: Bleed air is used to heat or cool the cabin air as needed.
- Anti-icing: Bleed air can be used to prevent ice from forming on critical surfaces, such as the wings and engines.
- Hydraulic system pressurization: Bleed air can be used to pressurize the hydraulic system reservoirs.
- Pneumatic system power: Bleed air can be used to power various pneumatic systems within the aircraft.
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