United Airlines Boeing 777 APU Catches Fire at San Francisco Airport
A recent incident involving a United Airlines Boeing 777 has drawn attention at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). On November 6, 2024, the aircraft, preparing for its transcontinental flight to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), experienced a fire in its Auxiliary Power Unit (APU). For those unfamiliar, the APU is a small engine situated in the tail section of the aircraft, which provides power to start the main engines and serves as a backup power source.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing system, the fire broke out during pushback from the gate, prompting an immediate response. Fortunately, passengers were quickly and safely evacuated from the plane while ground crews addressed the situation. Following the incident, the flight was delayed for around two and a half hours before taking off to Chicago after the issue was resolved.
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The plane involved in this incident was a Boeing 777-200, registered under N781UA, with Pratt and Whitney PW4000 engines. This particular aircraft, now more than 28 years old, is part of United Airlines' extensive fleet serving a wide range of domestic and international routes. Although older, these planes are maintained rigorously to meet safety standards.
During the wait, the passengers were taken back to the terminal. United Airlines representatives later confirmed that the APU issue was addressed, allowing the flight to proceed to Chicago without further complications. Passengers experienced only a minor delay, and no injuries were reported.
This incident is not isolated to United Airlines, as other airlines have faced similar APU issues in recent months. For instance, in September 2024, an Emirates flight departing from Chennai to Dubai encountered smoke emissions from its APU, leading to a delay and a precautionary response by airport fire services. Thankfully, like United’s incident, it was handled swiftly without further issues.
Safety protocols in aviation are robust, and while incidents like these can seem alarming, they demonstrate the effectiveness of response procedures. The rapid evacuation, inspection, and repair at SFO allowed the United flight to resume its journey with minimal disruption, underscoring the priority given to passenger safety in the aviation industry.
Stay tuned for further updates as safety investigations continue into these kinds of incidents, and remember to follow aviation news to keep informed on such matters.
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