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A United Airlines flight bound for Tokyo safely returned to Dulles International Airport on Saturday (December 13) after experiencing engine failure during takeoff. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that United Flight 803, a Boeing 777-200, lost power in one engine shortly after departure. The plane landed back at Dulles around 1:20 p.m. without any injuries to the 275 passengers and 15 crew members on board.
United Airlines plans to resume the flight to Tokyo later on Saturday using a different aircraft. The airline expressed gratitude to the crew and airport teams for ensuring the safety of everyone involved.
The engine failure also caused a brush fire near the runway during the plane's departure. Airport fire crews, with assistance from Loudoun County Fire and Rescue, quickly extinguished the fire without further incident. United Airlines temporarily closed a United Club lounge to assist passengers with rebooking and travel arrangements.
The FAA has announced an investigation into the incident to determine the cause of the engine failure. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.