A United Airlines flight bound for San Francisco International Airport (SFO) was forced to return to Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) after a hydraulic leak reportedly occurred mid-flight.
Flight UA 830 departed SYD at 12:01 local time. However, shortly after the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft began to make its way towards San Francisco, the flight declared a mid-air emergency and diverted back to SYD Airport.
The aircraft landed safely at 14:25 local time. Firefighters met the aircraft at the tarmac and all 167 passengers were able to disembark the plane safely.
A United Airlines spokesperson told The Daily Mail that the diversion was due to a “maintenance issue”.
According to some social media users, the mid-flight emergency was caused by a possible hydraulic leak.
United Airlines has provided accommodation for the passengers, who have been rebooked on a flight to San Francisco on March 12, 2024.
The Chicago-based airline has faced a number of problems in the space of just one week. On March 6, 2024, a United Airlines pilot initiated an emergency landing at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston after flames began to burst from the plane’s left engine.
On March 7, 2024, a UA Boeing 777-200 aircraft bound for Kansai International Airport (KIX) in Osaka had to divert to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) after one of its tires slipped off after takeoff.
On March 10, 2024, another United Airlines aircraft was involved in an incident when a Boeing 737 MAX 8 veered off a taxiway at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).