A recent emergency involving a United Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner has renewed concerns about the safety of this aircraft model. The incident took place on July 23, when the plane, en route from Washington Dulles International Airport to Munich, declared a mayday after its right engine failed shortly after takeoff. The flight returned to the airport and landed safely without injuries. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.
This event comes weeks after a much more serious crash involving another Boeing 787 Dreamliner. On June 12, Air India Flight 171 crashed shortly after departing from Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India. Preliminary findings indicate that both engines lost power when fuel control valves were switched from “RUN” to “CUTOFF.” It remains unclear whether this action was intentional or accidental. The aircraft crashed into a medical college complex, resulting in the deaths of 241 out of 242 passengers and multiple people on the ground. This tragedy is now considered the deadliest incident involving a Dreamliner.
Both incidents involved similar circumstances: they occurred during takeoff with the same aircraft type experiencing significant engine problems. While no one was injured in the United Airlines event, the Air India crash led to significant loss of life and raised questions about potential design or maintenance issues with the Boeing 787.
“These incidents underscore the importance of proper design, careful checks, appropriate maintenance, and accountability in aviation for the safety of folks both onboard and on the ground.”
The investigation into Air India Flight 171 continues as authorities seek answers regarding what caused both engines to fail simultaneously. Meanwhile, advocates are working to ensure that families affected by these tragedies receive support and justice.
“We currently represent more than 60 families who lost their loved ones in this crash.”
Mike Andrews is leading efforts for affected families following his work on cases related to previous aviation disasters such as Ethiopian Airlines’ crash in 2019. He is also monitoring other Boeing 787 incidents for any patterns of failure and advocating for improved aviation safety.
“He is also monitoring other Boeing 787 incidents for any failure patterns and to advocate for improved aviation safety in the future.”