On January 6th, a United Airlines Boeing 767-300ER flying from Newark to London Heathrow reported that it had lost its navigation capabilities after climbing to 17,000 feet. The crew was forced to declare an emergency, dump fuel, and return to the origin airport. Let's take a closer look at what happened with this flight and how the airline recovered.

Incident details

Performing flight UA940 to London Heathrow, a United Airlines Boeing 767-300ER departed Newark Liberty airport at 22:22. This was slightly past its scheduled departure time of 22:00.

Upon takeoff, The Aviation Herald notes that the aircraft received clearance to climb to 17,000 feet towards the waypoint known as MERIT. The crew requested a heading (compass direction) to the waypoint, reporting that they had no navigation available. Making attempts to solve the problem, the crew stopped the climb at 14,000 feet and requested delay vectors. For those unfamiliar with the terminology, the crew was essentially requesting that air traffic control direct them on a path that would delay their journey in a safe manner.

The aircraft made two circles above the area surrounding Bedford, New York, straddling the state line between New York and Connecticut. Unfortunately, with the crew unable to solve the problem, an emergency was subsequently declared, and air traffic control was advised that the flight would require vectors all the time. The 767 then dumped fuel and returned to Newark, performing an ILS approach and landing safely on runway 22L about 50 minutes after departure.

As for affected passengers, a replacement Boeing 767-300ER registered N672UA was dispatched to complete the journey. It reached London Heathrow with a delay of three hours.

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A relatively quick return to service

After its safe landing at Newark Liberty, the affected 767 remained on the ground for some nine hours before it was returned to service with a flight the next morning on January 7th, just before 09:00 local time.

This first post-incident flight was flight UA934 to London Heathrow, which was completed safely without incident. Interestingly, FlightRadar24.com data shows that the jet was then scheduled to operate UA939 from Heathrow to Chicago on January 8th. However, this flight was canceled and N663UA would spend an additional seven hours on the ground in London before being tasked with operating flight UA25 to Boston.

United Airlines boeing 767-300ERAbout the incident aircraft

The incident aircraft, registered N663UA, is a Boeing 767-300ER. Delivered to United Airlines in August 1993, the jet is now approximately 29-and-a-half years of age.

For much of the pandemic, the aircraft was in storage. Sitting at Roswell Industrial Air Center from October 2020 to November 2021, the 767 was then re-activated for regular commercial service. Just after re-entering service, Planespotters.net data notes that N663UA was reconfigured from a two-class layout of 30 business and 184 economy seats to a three-class layout of 46 seats in business class, 22 in premium economy and 99 in standard economy.

Thankfully, this aircraft hasn't had too many documented issues in its nearly 30 years of service. However, the one other incident reported took place on June 12th, 2015. It was on this day that the aircraft was operating a service from Chicago O'Hare to London Heathrow when it experienced flight control issues at FL350 over the Labrador Sea, about 210NM north-northeast of Goose Bay, Newfoundland, in Canada.

Have you flown on a United 767-300ER in recent times? How was the flight? Let us know by leaving a comment!

Sources: FlightRadar24.com, Planespotters.net, AeroInside

  • N14106 United Airlines (Her Art Here-California Livery) Boeing 757-224 (1)
    United Airlines
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    UA/UAL
    Airline Type:
    Full Service Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Denver International Airport, Guam International Airport, Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport
    Year Founded:
    1931
    Alliance:
    Star Alliance
    CEO:
    Scott Kirby
    Country:
    United States