United B789 at Los Angeles on Mar 2nd 2026, engine fire

Last Update: April 9, 2026 / 15:28:02 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Mar 2, 2026

Classification
Incident

Cause
Engine fire

Airline
United

Flight number
UA-2127

Departure
Los Angeles, United States

Destination
Newark, United States

Aircraft Registration
N24972

Aircraft Type
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

ICAO Type Designator
B789

A United Boeing 787-9, registration N24972 performing flight UA-2127 from Los Angeles,CA to Newark,NJ (USA) with 239 passengers and 11 crew, was climbing out of Los Angeles' runway 25R when the crew stopped the climb at FL180 reporting a left hand engine (GEnx) fire. The aircraft turned around, the crew advised it appeared the engine fire was out. The aircraft landed safely back on runway 25L, vacated the runway and stopped clear of the runway. Initially the crew thought they would not need to evacuate, but the engine fire indication came back on prompting the crew to initiate an emergency evacuation. The crew advised that both fire bottles had been discharged. Smoke was visible around the aircraft during the evacuation.

On Apr 9th 2026 the NTSB released their preliminary report reporting the aircraft experienced a left hand engine surge on climbing out of Los Angeles. The NTSB continued:

According to the flight crew statements, the flight began with an uneventful pre-flight, taxi, and takeoff from runway 25R. The First Officer was the pilot flying and the Captain was the pilot monitoring. While climbing through 17,000 feet, they experienced strong vibrations in the controls and observed decreasing left engine N2 speed. A compressor stall and a L ENGINE FIRE message was displayed on the engine indicating and crew alerting system (EICAS) shortly after. The First Officer transferred controls to the Captain and began executing the engine fire checklist. One fire bottle was discharged and the engine fire warning extinguished after about 30 seconds. The warning returned on the EICAS, and the second fire bottle was discharged. The crew declared an emergency, advised ATC of a suspected engine fire, requested clearance for immediate return to LAX, and asked for airport crash and fire rescue (CFR) assistance. The crew continued receiving intermittent fire warnings during their return to LAX.

A single engine, ILS approach and landing on Runway 25L was accomplished without incident.

After landing, the L ENGINE FIRE EICAS warning returned and the crew decided to stop taxi and evacuate while still on the taxiway. While the crew was performing the evacuation checklist and informing passengers, a flight attendant told them she saw fire coming from the left engine. Aircraft rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) personnel brought airstairs to right-side door R1 and slides were deployed for the remaining right-side doors R2 and R3. The Captain stayed onboard to assist firefighters sweeping the aircraft while the First Officer went outside to assist passenger evacuation.

Post-incident examination of the airplane found sooting and thermal damage concentrated around the engine core module’s external surfaces and extending up toward the pylon connection. Both left and right thrust reverser halves showed minimal thermal damage. Borescope inspection found damage in the high-pressure turbine.
Aircraft Registration Data
Registration mark
N24972
Country of Registration
United States
Date of Registration
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Manufacturer
BOEING
Aircraft Model / Type
787-9
Number of Seats
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ICAO Aircraft Type
B789
Year of Manufacture
Kglm Subscribe to unlock
Serial Number
Nfqbp Subscribe to unlock
Aircraft Address / Mode S Code (HEX)
mphhl Subscribe to unlock
Engine Count
I Subscribe to unlock
Engine Manufacturer
Ne Subscribe to unlock
Engine Model
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Engine Type
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Pounds of Thrust
FAlih Subscribe to unlock
Main Owner
Plpd glfjilqAhlcbmhbing lgqijgniinfp dAlejn eghibcdmghchgcqfjbeAdmAg lhc Subscribe to unlock
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Mar 2, 2026

Classification
Incident

Cause
Engine fire

Airline
United

Flight number
UA-2127

Departure
Los Angeles, United States

Destination
Newark, United States

Aircraft Registration
N24972

Aircraft Type
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

ICAO Type Designator
B789

This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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