A United Airlines flight from Chicago to London declared an emergency earlier today as it approached its UK destination. The incident involved United Airlines flight UA938, a Boeing 767 aircraft that was operating on a transatlantic route from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR).
United Airlines Flight UA938 Chicago (ORD) – London Heathrow (LHR)
As flight UA938 traversed the west coast of England inbound for London, it declared a general emergency, transmitting the emergency squawk code 7700.
Aircraft and Flight Details
The aircraft involved in this incident was a Boeing 767-300ER, registered as N686UA. This particular aircraft holds a history of two decades in service, making it a 20-year-old member of the United Airlines fleet.
The Boeing 767-300ER (Extended Range) is a wide-body twin-engine jet, known for its long-haul capabilities and reliable performance. It’s a common choice for transatlantic flights, given its range and passenger capacity.
The Flight’s Progression and Timing
The flight’s emergency declaration occurred during the final leg of its transatlantic journey. The aircraft made a normal departure from Chicago O’Hare; albeit after a lengthy delay.
The transit over the Atlantic appeared normal, and saw the aircraft maintain progressive cruising levels of FL330, climbing to FL370 in the latter part of the transatlantic crossing.
The flight then declared a general emergency, squawking 7700 on descent passing through 30,000 feet, as the aircraft passed over the Bristol Channel south of Wales, inbound to London (See above image).
Actual time of departure (ATD) was recorded as 00:10 CDT from Chicago O’Hare, despite the flight’s scheduled departure time being 21:20 CDT. It is not known whether the delay had any bearing on this morning’s emergency declaration.