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Aviation Audio Clips / KIAD 12/13/25 1735Z UAL803 777 - Engine Loss on takeoff + Fire/debris on ground
« Last post by baldiedc on December 13, 2025, 21:53:24 UTC »Saturday 12/13/25 17:35Z (12:35pm local) - UAL803 Heavy (Boeing 777-200) from IAD to Tokyo, declares Mayday on takeoff from Rwy 1C for left engine loss. 290 persons on board, 16 hours of fuel. Remained with Tower in a low altitude climb, before accepting vectors to the South then switch to Departure.
(According to social media the captain notified passengers it was a bird strike).
Dulles Operations subsequently requested 1C/19C closed due to smoke, later reported 6-7 areas of fire and "seeing pieces out here". AAL2149 on final for 01C had approach clearance switch to 01R.
UAL803 climbed to 5k ft and entered a hold south of IAD for return on ILS approach to 1R; dumped fuel down to ~10 Hours / 146k pounds of fuel.
UAL803 landed 1R, stopped on the runway reporting possible blown tire, and switched to emergency frequency 123.775 (not on LiveATC)
Attached combination KIAD 1L/1C Twr, KIAD App IADFE (125.8), KIAD 1R Twr (120.1); edited for time and content, not realtime etc.
Timeline (Z):
17:33.30 UAL803 cleared for takeoff Rwy 1C
17:35.40 UAL803 declares mayday - "lost an engine going straight out".
17:36.23 UAL803 advised of low altitude alert @ 1000ft in slow climb. Remains on runway heading and on Tower frequency - "I'm busy"... "TWR: can you accept a vector" - "Negative"
17:38.03 UAL803 advised of MVA 2000ft - "we're climbing"
17:39.15 UAL803 starts turn back to the South
17:42.24 UAL803 switch to Departure (125.8)
17:42.40 IAD Ops requests closure of 1C due to smoke - "about 6-7 areas here that are [inaudible] fires... seeing pieces out here as well"
17:46.18 UAL803 confirms left engine loss; "dumping fuel right now"
17:49.15 UAL803 given instructions to proceed direct EERRS hold southbound on the 1R localizer, maintaining 5k with 10-15mi legs at their discretion
18:05.30 UAL803 reports done with fuel jettison, fuel status "over 10 hours / 146k pounds"
18:07.40 UAL803 reports ready to turn inbound on ILS approach for 1R
18:11.30 UAL803 cleared for ILS approach 1R.
18:15.00 UAL803 switch to Tower (120.1)
18:19.30 UAL803 rolling out on Rwy 1R, informs Tower will stop on runway - "may have a blown tire"
18:20.45 UAL803 switches to emergency frequency 123.775
Links/Media
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/UAL803/history/20251213/1730Z/KIAD/RJTT
https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/1plsh4y/united_803_a_b777_departing_washington_dulles_for/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
https://avherald.com/h?article=5311d112&opt=0
A United Boeing 777-200, registration N78004 performing flight UA-803 from Washington Dulles,DC (USA) to Tokyo Haneda (Japan) with 275 passengers and 15 crew, was climbing out of Dulles' runway 01C when the crew declared Mayday Mayday Mayday reporting they had lost the left hand engine (GE90). Smoke developed at the side of the runway prompting emergency services to respond, a small grass fire was extinguished. The aircraft stopped the climb at 5000 feet and entered a hold dumping fuel, then returned to runway 01R for a safe landing about 45 minutes after departure.
https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/statements/accident_incidents
December 13, 2025
Commercial Aviation / Dulles, Virginia
United Airlines Flight 803 safely returned to Dulles International Airport in Virginia around 1:20 p.m. local time on Saturday, Dec. 13, after experiencing an engine failure during departure. The FAA will investigate. The Boeing 777-200 was travelling to Tokyo, Japan. Contact the airline for additional information.
(According to social media the captain notified passengers it was a bird strike).
Dulles Operations subsequently requested 1C/19C closed due to smoke, later reported 6-7 areas of fire and "seeing pieces out here". AAL2149 on final for 01C had approach clearance switch to 01R.
UAL803 climbed to 5k ft and entered a hold south of IAD for return on ILS approach to 1R; dumped fuel down to ~10 Hours / 146k pounds of fuel.
UAL803 landed 1R, stopped on the runway reporting possible blown tire, and switched to emergency frequency 123.775 (not on LiveATC)
Attached combination KIAD 1L/1C Twr, KIAD App IADFE (125.8), KIAD 1R Twr (120.1); edited for time and content, not realtime etc.
Timeline (Z):
17:33.30 UAL803 cleared for takeoff Rwy 1C
17:35.40 UAL803 declares mayday - "lost an engine going straight out".
17:36.23 UAL803 advised of low altitude alert @ 1000ft in slow climb. Remains on runway heading and on Tower frequency - "I'm busy"... "TWR: can you accept a vector" - "Negative"
17:38.03 UAL803 advised of MVA 2000ft - "we're climbing"
17:39.15 UAL803 starts turn back to the South
17:42.24 UAL803 switch to Departure (125.8)
17:42.40 IAD Ops requests closure of 1C due to smoke - "about 6-7 areas here that are [inaudible] fires... seeing pieces out here as well"
17:46.18 UAL803 confirms left engine loss; "dumping fuel right now"
17:49.15 UAL803 given instructions to proceed direct EERRS hold southbound on the 1R localizer, maintaining 5k with 10-15mi legs at their discretion
18:05.30 UAL803 reports done with fuel jettison, fuel status "over 10 hours / 146k pounds"
18:07.40 UAL803 reports ready to turn inbound on ILS approach for 1R
18:11.30 UAL803 cleared for ILS approach 1R.
18:15.00 UAL803 switch to Tower (120.1)
18:19.30 UAL803 rolling out on Rwy 1R, informs Tower will stop on runway - "may have a blown tire"
18:20.45 UAL803 switches to emergency frequency 123.775
Links/Media
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/UAL803/history/20251213/1730Z/KIAD/RJTT
https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/1plsh4y/united_803_a_b777_departing_washington_dulles_for/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
https://avherald.com/h?article=5311d112&opt=0
A United Boeing 777-200, registration N78004 performing flight UA-803 from Washington Dulles,DC (USA) to Tokyo Haneda (Japan) with 275 passengers and 15 crew, was climbing out of Dulles' runway 01C when the crew declared Mayday Mayday Mayday reporting they had lost the left hand engine (GE90). Smoke developed at the side of the runway prompting emergency services to respond, a small grass fire was extinguished. The aircraft stopped the climb at 5000 feet and entered a hold dumping fuel, then returned to runway 01R for a safe landing about 45 minutes after departure.
https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/statements/accident_incidents
December 13, 2025
Commercial Aviation / Dulles, Virginia
United Airlines Flight 803 safely returned to Dulles International Airport in Virginia around 1:20 p.m. local time on Saturday, Dec. 13, after experiencing an engine failure during departure. The FAA will investigate. The Boeing 777-200 was travelling to Tokyo, Japan. Contact the airline for additional information.
