In the last few moments, United Airlines flight UA2108 between Newark and Orlando has declared an emergency.
Furthermore, N17133 is understood to be involved in the incident.
UPDATE #1 @ 2155 UK time – The aircraft is making a u-turn and diverting to Washington Dulles.
UPDATE #2 @ 2200 UK time – N17133 is the aircraft involved in the current emergency.
As per Planespotters, N17133 is a 25.7 year old Boeing 757-200 that started out life with Continental Airlines in December 1998.
Moreover, following the merger with United Airlines, it was handed over to the UA registry in October 2010.
Of the 757-200 variant, the airline has 40 of them in their fleet.
Within the 40, 37 are in active service and three are parked, with an average fleet age of 27.6 years.
Moreover, other aircraft in the mainline UA fleet include the following:
81 Airbus A319s.
84 Airbus A320s.
15 Airbus A321s.
510 Boeing 737 Family aircraft.
21 Boeing 757-300s.
53 Boeing 767s.
96 Boeing 777s.
71 Boeing 787s.
In total, United Airlines have 971 aircraft in their fleet, of which 916 are in active service.
UPDATE #2 @ 2202 UK time – UA2108 is on the downwind into Washington Dulles.
At this stage, the nature of the emergency is still unclear.
UPDATE #3 @ 2206 UK time – UA2108 is on the base leg into IAD. Furthermore, the aircraft has changed it’s squawk to 3337.
UPDATE #4 @ 2208 UK time – UA2108 is now on final approach into Dulles. Emergency landing expected imminently.
EMERGENCY UPDATE #5 @ 2215 UK time – TOUCHDOWN!
United Airlines flight UA2108, originally bound for Orlando from Newark, has appeared to have touched down safely into Washington Dulles following it’s emergency broadcast.
Furthermore, at this stage, the cause is unclear.
Moreover, as soon as we have more information pertinent to this, then we will update you accordingly.
UPDATE #6 @ 2225 UK time – UA2108 came to a stop on the high speed exit for a few minutes.
Furthermore after landing, the aircraft was checked out by emergency crews.
From there, the aircraft taxiied to it’s gate with the presence of emergency vehicles as a precaution.
Overall, the cause is still not clear at this present moment.
UPDATE #7 @ 2229 UK time – The United Airlines flight status page states that the reason for the emergency and subsequent diversion into Washington Dulles on UA2108 Newark-Orlando looks to be due to a lavatory issue.
The airline said via the status page:
“We’re sorry for stopping in Washington Dulles.”
“Our maintenance team needs to service the lavatory on your aircraft before we can depart again.