On July 25, United Airlines Flight UA108 - a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner bound for Munich - declared a MAYDAY after its left engine malfunctioned shortly after takeoff from Washington Dulles Airport. The crew reported the issue after climbing to approximately 5,000 feet, prompting immediate coordination with air traffic controllers and triggering standard emergency protocols, including a fuel dump to reduce weight.

The aircraft circled northwest of Washington, hovering around 6,000 feet while releasing fuel until it was safe to approach Runway 19 Centre. Once cleared, UA108 executed a precision ILS landing and safely touched down, although it required towing off the runway due to the disabled engine. No injuries were reported.

This incident furthers concerns surrounding reliability in the Boeing 787 fleet, coming just weeks after the tragic Air India 787 crash in Ahmedabad. While UA108 safely recovered, the event underscores heightened scrutiny over potential engine vulnerabilities and emergency preparedness in modern wide-body aircraft.