A United Airlines Boeing 777-300 faced an unexpected turn when it was compelled to return to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport in Australia shortly after takeoff due to a mechanical complication. The flight, United Flight 830, had just embarked on its 13-and-a-half-hour journey across the Pacific Ocean bound for San Francisco.
Reports indicated a concerning sight: hydraulic fluid was observed gushing from the right landing gear strut, echoing a similar incident involving another Boeing 777 from the carrier only a week prior, where a landing gear wheel dislodged during takeoff from San Francisco.
A video shared by the YouTube channel New York Aviation captured the aircraft’s departure and subsequent return to Sydney approximately two hours later. Upon touchdown, emergency crews swiftly met the airliner, with smoke visibly emanating from the right landing gear.
According to CNN, United Airlines confirmed that all passengers disembarked safely at the gate, with arrangements made for their rebooking on a flight the following day and provision of overnight accommodations.
While the exact cause of the issue remains undetermined, the significant leakage of fluid from the landing gear suggests a potential hydraulic malfunction, a critical concern given the hydraulic system’s pivotal role in operating various aircraft functions including landing gear, brakes, flaps, and flight controls on the Boeing 777.
The recurrence of such incidents points towards potential maintenance challenges within United Airlines.
The Chicago-based carrier has encountered several mechanical setbacks over recent days, including the aforementioned incident with the loose landing gear tire causing damage in an SFO parking lot, as well as a diversion of a United Airbus A321 to Los Angeles last Friday due to a hydraulic complication.
These incidents raise questions about the airline’s maintenance protocols and operational integrity, highlighting a troubling pattern that warrants close scrutiny and remedial action.
Also read: United Boeing 777 Loses Tire Mid-Flight, Damaging Cars in Parking Lot
