United Airlines Boeing 787-9 Diverts To Chicago O'Hare After Pilot Displays Go Dark

[@SimpleFlyingNews]

CORRECTION: The map at 0:20 should have shown a path from LAX to LHR. LAS was incorrectly entered into the map generator.

[@fahque635]

We at LAS made it in a video!

[@Tpr_1808]

@@fahque635 never again😭

[@MkurugenziMwenyekiti]

And at 2:00 the primary video display entered into a degraded state.

[@Reaz741]

LOL😂😂😂

[@StormFanatic210]

ORD and IAH have all the Maintenance Facilities that United could ever need. Diverting to one of those two Airports if safe to do so, is the best decision to make.

[@d.b.cooper1]

Yeah but mayday was a bit of a reach, if it’s a mayday you look to get it down asap, not overtly other airports

[@Tpr_1808]

Los Angeles is LAX. UA doesn't have a hub in Vegas

[@Tina-d8f]

Makes sense to navigate to a maintenance hub if possible.

[@sainnt]

Most airlines, given a choice, will prefer to fly to the nearest hub, because they can usually get a replacement aircraft to continue the trip.

[@brad9529]

Yes, saving them money. It shouldn't be allowed.

[@Michael_K_Woods]

@@brad9529no dopey, it saves the passengers time and money. If I’m 24 hours late to my checkin the hotel isn’t giving me a free extra day.

[@sainnt]

​@@brad9529It's actually better for passengers, because flying to such a big airport means they will have plenty of flights to be rebooked to, and the airline has the infrastructure to get the aircraft back in the air. If they don't believe they can get the aircraft back they would never attempt it.

[@brad9529]

@sainnt yeah, it's definitely more convenient for everyone. However, it's a dangerous risk. Flights have crashed from doing such things. I'd personally rather be inconvenienced than risk dying.

[@sainnt]

@@brad9529 That's not true, at least not with modern airliners. Most pilots know what to do. A couple of years ago, an Emirates A380 en route to New Zealand turned around halfway there and went back to Dubai. At first it seems ridiculous, but it's better for everyone for them to put those passengers in another A380 and not only get those passengers to their destination safely, but also be able to pick up all the passengers coming back. No pilot will risk their own life just to save an airline money.

[@nonsibisedipsi6812]

It makes perfect sense. Especially since ORD is a maintenance hub. Also, on your map, you put LAS, which is Las Vegas.

[@SimpleFlyingNews]

Yes thanks for letting us know. We’ve pinned a comment to highlight the error and correction.

[@TomCarter-s8s]

Smart to go to hub, maint. & available 787 to continue

[@paulm1365]

If they lost two screens they still have three, plus their HUD’s, plus their back up instruments.

[@thepenmen22]

I had a similar experience, but instead our captain decided to land right away, and it was a huge mess. Story time: We flew from Asia and had a connection from Amsterdam to Detroit. As we entered North America, pilots said our left engine's anti ice was not working, and with the weather above north eastern US, they couldn't continue due to risk of ice entering the engine. So they landed right away at Happy Valley Goose Bay, somewhere in north east Canada. Had the plane at least entered the US, we could have done customs and flew back on some other US carrier. But instead, we were stuck on a military base for several hours, with no customs, and no plane to take us back. We had to wait for another A330 to arrive, but when it did, the new pilots timed out on their duty day. So we had to sit on the plane for several more hours. Passengers were screaming and it was a bad experience for everyone. Then Delta decided to ask the Canadian military to allow us to sleep for a few hours at their barracks, which they did after deplaning us very slowly and checking our documents. The next day, another smaller plane arrived with Delta representatives, plenty of food was given to us there in the morning. Then we finally flew to Detroit. Had the pilot entered the US, it might have been a lot smoother for us. Do I think the pilot did the right thing even if it caused that much chaos? Likely yes in the chance of an engine failure, but wow was it a mess. Delta refunded our tickets and also gave us another free trip.

[@alphadiallo1655]

At least you made it home. Better than forcing and be in trouble..

[@MichaelM-uw3mk]

Map is wrong. This is like the 4th video I've seen where the map is wrong.

[@AnotherPointOfView944]

Medieval pilgrimage maps?

[@reubenmorris487]

The first officer's PFD/ND were obviously still functional, along with the ISFD, and navigation. We don't really know why the displays "degraded" or malfunctioned; you'd have to wait for the reports to come out. The pilots did the best thing and got the jet and everybody to ORD safely.

[@wshnus]

I think the pilot made the right decision to fly to Chicago, as long as the plane can continue to fly, I don't think that's an issue. If they divert to Canada the logistics will be a chaos, they need to find a plane to ferry the passengers and that will take a while. In Chicago, that's their hub so it will be much easier to find another aircraft and crew.

[@storminnormin4651]

Pilots did the right thing after it was determined that they COULD make it to ORD safely. Which is the name of the game. UNITED pilots are well trained and seasoned, they have my utmost respect and confidence.

[@HenriqueCarneiroM]

The decision to divert back to O'Hare makes total sense to me as a pilot, though an emergency was declared it was not a critical situation...Operationally speaking: O'Hare is a major United hub and you'd have all the company's infrastructure to provide maintenance to the aircraft and to the customers, if they went off base (which should be considered if the situation required of course), that could become a major costly hurdle the airline.

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Thank you for sharing this incident.😊

[@zia786786]

Question isn’t why they diverted to ORD. Question is the mayday call

[@raghavannatarajan5320]

The pilots cleverness saved the life of entire passengers. God bless him for timely action.

[@CogitoTesting]

Mayday means you land at the nearest airport. Assuming your hub is not the nearest airport and then fly all the way to your hub after declaring mayday makes no sense.

[@jantjarks7946]

Was it a mayday, or Pan Pan Pan?

[@nachoman2]

@@jantjarks7946 it was a mayday

[@jantjarks7946]

@@nachoman2 Thx!

[@flywithjohn]

What makes no sense is landing at the nearest suitable airport for a loss of navigation capability and stranding the passengers at a small candidate outstation that doesn’t have the appropriate passenger handling facilities. Pilots can declare an emergency and cancel the emergency based on the current status of what’s happening. The airplane was safe and perfectly capable of going to ORD. It took an intermediate international destination out of the matrix. It meant not dumping fuel. And there was appropriate passenger handling facilities. It was a good decision.

[@CogitoTesting]

@@flywithjohn Mayday is NOT a joke. Declaring mayday means saving the lives of passengers and crew become the ultimate priority; landing at the nearest airport accomplishes just that. In that context, passengers inconveniences become an after-thought.

[@seagullsbtn]

@ 2:00 in video you have a disruption in the video and audio quality. Time for SF to squawk 7700.

[@kimsmoke17]

So ok, what people don’t realize is that northern Manitoba, and northern Ontario are unpopulated. They could have landed at Churchill, Manitoba, population 1000. The runway in Churchill is 9200 feet, but what do you do with the PAX? Have them Sleep on the plane, or in cots in CAF barracks/hangers? North Bay Ontario has a 10,000 ft runway, but same issue. That far north, there are no other runways that could accept the aircraft. Winnipeg, MB has two long runways, and has an air Canada line maintenance hanger, but the techs there may not know the type…. If you’re already safe to make it to Winnipeg, might as well get to Chicago, where United can rebook everyone quickly, and fix the airplane themselves…. It’s that simple folks.

[@alooga555]

In the back of the DC-8 cockpit, there was a work desk for an aviator and a small “skylight” on the ceiling for astronomical observations. It allowed the navigator to determine the plane's current location by inserting a sextant into the skylight and observing the stars and the sun.

[@jamesx4952]

Isn’t this the second time the displays when blank on the 787 this year I think a Latam 787 had the same problem

[@DustinPearce2957]

Which one though? Is it the one who got devastated with the crazy turbulence or is it different flight?

[@SimonButler]

From what I understand, you have to cycle the FMCs every 21 days or something or this degraded mode can happen. It's not great that it's required, but it's a known issue and easy to avoid if it's tracked on the maintenance log.

[@FlyByWire1]

You might be thinking of the LATAM 787 that had a sudden descent while in cruise. We later found out that was a result of a flight attendant leaning on the back of the pilot’s seat and engaging the seat control that pushed the pilot forward into the yoke.

[@DustinPearce2957]

@@FlyByWire1 Yup, that's the one.

[@FlyByWire1]

@@DustinPearce2957 yep, I’m pretty sure the FAA just issued a global directive for 787 operators to replace cockpit seats where the switch covering has come off and the seat control switch is exposed.

[@nikobelic4251]

Bruh everyone crapping on Boeing, this could very well be and probably was a maintenance issue not a manufacturing issue

[@todortodorov6056]

Nobody is pointing the finger at Boeing. But this could very well turn out to be and probably is another manufacturing issue, not a maintenance issue.

[@nikobelic4251]

@@todortodorov6056 There are many comments here that point the finger at Boeing. The aircraft is 9 years old, it has gone through C check multiple times. More than likely this isn’t a manufacturing issue.

[@greenesyt563]

show me a single comment mocking Boeing for this

[@nikobelic4251]

@@greenesyt563 Watch what you wish for…. 14H ago EuropeanrailfanAlt: “I hope this isn’t Boeing’s fault because the plane is 9 years old” 11H ago kkrsnn5632: “786 Surpriseliner” 15H ago drjesusbalanc638: “😂 Boeing never disappoints” 15H ago jantjarks7946: “Boeing has entered degraded mode… … since MDD merger 😂” 9H ago MrHav1K: “Oh great, ANOTHER problem with Boeing. Lmao…” 15H ago shoutyshouty: “Boeing Taking dark mode to the extreme” 6H ago paintedpony2935: “If it’s Boeing I’m not going” Shall I continue? Because I have more.

[@ndirangugichuki6260]

​@@greenesyt563Exactly, I haven't read any

[@markusknight]

This same aircraft was also involved in another incident recently. On Jul 12, the landing gear failed to retract and was forced to return to JNB quickly after takeoff.

[@nathanlembke9026]

Not the first time it’s happened to Airbus A320s too

[@IrnBruXtra]

Lufthansa and South African Airlines have put more A340-600s back into service to replace A320 and Boeings. If you are from the USA could Yellowstone Caldera be releasing toxic chemicals into the atmosphere causing engine and computer problems?

[@mcmuffin-z5v]

@@IrnBruXtra tf are you saying

[@wickedpawn5437]

Isn't this the same thing that happened to the Latam 787 pilots mid-air on the way to Australia?

[@mmm0404]

That's what they said , but that's not actually what happened. The pilot seat was mistakenly adjusted into the flight controls , causing the aircraft to dive. Nothing went blank

[@alanw.4511]

To avoid upsetting the aircraft's AI or flight computer, let's call this an unplanned, technology professional day.

[@平和-v1z]

Very informative as always!

[@tedsmart5539]

NO - it's loaded with false information.

[@dasmellyyooper]

What would have been closer that could have handled a 787? Not just one, but 2? Minneapolis, Winnipeg? Neither have super large presences from United. Plus it would have been contracted MX for diagnostics and a road crew for repair, hotels for the passengers and crew, and needing to find a new crew. The crew didn't feel the need to get down quickly then be AOG, so they chose the best option. ORD has everything they need to get back to the skies ASAP

[@ronparrish6666]

Winnipeg and Calgary can handle the aircraft with air Canada same as a few years ago United flight going over to Europe had a emergency stop in Toronto when the pilot spilled his coffee over the instruments and Air Canada fixed it in Toronto they can handle United aircraft

[@eamonahern7495]

​@ronparrish6666 the lack of punctuation makes your comment difficult to read

[@ndirangugichuki6260]

​@@eamonahern7495no it's not

[@shannondoidgemedium]

Toronto was much closer. Also Winnipeg has an airport that can handle a 787-9.

[@riopato2009]

Sons of Maxwell brought me here from a video made 15 years ago

[@sarahivsutterb747]

Sometimes I think it's better to have the cockpits of the old-fashioned way like that one of the Boeing 747-100 or other aircraft's like that one! I think these old-fashioned cockpits are more reliable than the new ones! Just a thought about it!

[@marcd6897]

No.

[@Renaissancemutant]

Another Condition Completely Unhelpful To Purpose.😮

[@karlp8484]

Is this the second time a Boeing has had a "instrument blank" happening this year? Was the other one where the plane pitched downwards because they said it was a seat problem? Irrespective of the seat thingy, the pilots reported an instrument blackout.

[@EuropeanRailfanAlt]

I hope this isn't Boeing's fault because the plane is 9 years old

[@AbdullahNajib-b9z]

isnt.

[@kedricjackson2299]

The Pilots made a good decision. MAYDAY! All safety and focus are on this particular plane. Navigation did not start with digital components. Great job, United Pilots!

[@bearcubdaycare]

Maybe it was simpler to navigate nearly due south, than some other direction, given the lack of normal instrument displays?

[@ivangeo3319]

We have become so dependent on electricity so much that makes me fearful of 'if electricity no more ' for a time or extensive time, like after a natural disaster.

[@d.b.cooper1]

Declaring a mayday seemed odd. Did they later correct it to a pan pan? I get it why they went to Chicago, but you’d never do that in a true mayday.

[@stevejcoop]

Seems logical to fly to a service Center . Probably motivated by cost saving

[@peterdelight513]

I though Los Angeles was LAX not LAS

[@spyderlogan4992]

This is not a Mayday situation. It is a Pan Pan situation, serious but not life threatening as per FAA guidelines. In my opinion.

[@mikeyriley8959]

Unless there’s more to the story, I agree. But if you don’t land at your destination, you must land at your alternate. Unless you declare an emergency OR get a reanalysis from dispatch and re-release.

[@ThePrimeYeeter]

this is just United's maintenance fault at this point, really

[@jantjarks7946]

You know that for sure because you made it up while writing. 😂

[@lennywallace9201]

@@jantjarks7946 no its because every united flight out of california seems to be bugged

[@jantjarks7946]

And that counts for Delta and Latam too, who had the same issue popping up? Let me guess, your United bias already decided what the truth has to be. Or is it a Boeing bias? 😂

[@AbdullahNajib-b9z]

only latam is boeings fault..the rest is maintenance daily mail journalist.

[@AbdullahNajib-b9z]

in fact every flight in america seems to be.....

[@pettz18]

doesn’t surprise me. it’s a boeing!

[@Trent-s7k]

Exactly the same thing happened to an Airbus yesterday..oops.😮

[@ruimigueldiassilva]

The captain thought in the passengers and in all the problems that would happen if landed in Canadá, the mayday issue i don’t nothing about it.

[@sqpilot63074]

The 787 have 6 large display which are interchangeable and when one display goes blank, you can switch the display pfd to nd or eicas from captain or FO. No danger but it’s just that United finds it easier to conduct maintenance at hub. Usually the filter gets clog because of dust get sucked in and creates blockage and overheat the display.

[@davidkavanagh189]

Look on the bright side. At least Americans are learning how to say Mayday. Baby steps!

[@zlm001]

Declare an Emergency or Mayday and the run your checklists to find out it doesn’t require landing immediately. O’Hare has the maintenance, but getting a replacement plane and slot should be easier from the hub as well. If safety isn’t compromised, it’s a win-win. Well that’s how you sell it at least. It might have been faster to finish the flight, and the airline saves money on maintenance and the replacement flight arrangements. CREAM, that’s the real reason.

[@jongallant6054]

They did the right thing landing in America.

[@AbdullahNajib-b9z]

id love to hear that one person to say ''this is the latest controversy to involve boeing planes'' when its probably united back at it with their maintenance.

[@cameraman655]

OK, ask and you shall receive….Just another Boeing issue, they really need to shut the company down, they’re becoming a hazard to aviation…oh, Boeing, not United.

[@uzilowenthal1946]

I think that flying back to the fully technically equipped home base was correct. Re; the ma

[@TheBryson158]

So did the flight originate from lax or las?

[@qazinadeemkamal816]

If other wise air craft was for as flying and alternate Nav tools were available and Flying Crew was well converst with those than landing at home base was ok but insted of Mayday call Priority Call could have been given.

[@angelavanhorn2325]

I was little concern going to Chicago, (past) however, O'Hare have great services and good citizen there. I was proud of OHare airport ...

[@dennisodonnell1220]

Send all bills to smple flying. They will like that.

[@brad9529]

Bad judgement call. There could have been an unknown problem causing the issue. They should have put it down at the nearest airport, anything else is irresponsible, its all about money and Chicago would have saved them a ton of money. Money before safety.

[@tonyhull4978]

Exactly, a Mayday is a mayday.

[@ClarencegHamm]

Good old failing union craftsmanship

[@kkrsnn5632]

786 Surpriseliner

[@marksman875437]

Should’ve gone to Winnipeg or Edmonton

[@mcmuffin-z5v]

And then how would they repair the aircraft

[@dewyakana1543]

Yeah, I'm never flying on any Boeing. I don't need the drama. A THREE YEAR OLD JET?

[@drjesubalan639]

😂Boeing never disappoints

[@Zinedine-t9n]

😮

[@DavidMuriuki-en7jw]

Boeing: WHY ALWAYS ME?

[@shoutyshouty]

Boeing - Taking dark mode to the extreme.

[@AbdullahNajib-b9z]

maintenance

[@jantjarks7946]

Boeing entered a degraded mode.... ... since the MDD merger. 😂

[@AbdullahNajib-b9z]

not beoings fault.maintenance

[@jantjarks7946]

@@AbdullahNajib-b9z I don't know, who maintains the MDD management at Boeing? 😂

[@AbdullahNajib-b9z]

What is MDD management?mcdonnel douglas?they were ok,but they were a competitor,glad they were sucked in by boeing

[@MrHav1k]

KEKW

[@Katie-c6p]

Hail Mary.

[@PakaBubi]

Boeing... I was on a Qantas 787 flight from PER to LHR that was cancelled because of an issue that could not be fixed till the following day. Yeah...

[@AbdullahNajib-b9z]

probably maintenance.

[@paintedpony2935]

If it's Boeing, I'm not going!

[@MrHav1k]

Oh great, ANOTHER problem with Boeing. LMao....

[@niteowlification]

This was not a life and death emergency.

[@tomg6284]

Should have went to 1st suitable airport. Bad call by ops. Captain Should have said no we are going here not Chicago.. what if things cascaded now you are foooked.

[@James-bc1jk]

How can a company kill 600 people and nothing happen

[@emypena]

Probably due to some loose scew or missing screw....

[@rampar77]

It was aMafda,ot PanPan. it also siad the piot PMD was dark, not the first officer, and they ahd dispay n top panel for navation

[@cherifbar]

I don’t trust modern Avionics or GPS. I NEVER DID AND I NEVER WILL.

[@AbdullahNajib-b9z]

i will

[@qazinadeemkamal816]

Read the Philosophy of Accidents Rate

[@minzawone]

Never ending Boeing Problems

[@mcmuffin-z5v]

Never ending Boeing haters, I bet you didn’t even watch the entire video to actually understand what happened, maybe instead of being brain washed by media and actually do some independent research out of your comfort zone and you’ll find that this happens on both airbus and Boeing aircraft and it’s actually happened more on airbus don’t form an opinion from media bias.

[@marksman875437]

Or could’ve made it to Toronto? Air Canada is a star alliance partner with maintenance facilities that could have helped the company

[@kevinwong1988]

As if Boeing doesn't have enough problem in their hand already.

[@AbdullahNajib-b9z]

maintenance

[@Patrickair4444]

Ontario is a state

[@TimBoulton-zd2dw]

No it isn't, it's a province.

[@thomasnorb4077]

"Canada has ten provinces and three territories".

[@hughofIreland]

Not yet; it’s our largest national park.

[@AbdullahNajib-b9z]

isnt this like.....completely off topic?

[@niteowlification]

@@AbdullahNajib-b9z Who cares ? I love talking about Canada.

[@fredericmarohn-bh4qr]

More Boeing aircrafts A COFFIN GOING SOMEPLACE TO CRASH GO AIRBUS❤❤

[@pruthvipurohit4864]

Again Boeing 😂😂😂

[@Germanlepoard2a7v]

Bruh it's an maintenance issue dumass

[@user-sh8ge7gr6u]

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA LAUGH AT BOEING HAHAHAHHAHAAHA

[@MeaHeaR]

Iph its Bóiñgg I IZZA ĶŇÕTT ĢOIEŃG 😟😰😩😰😟😰😩😟😰😰😩😨😨😨😨😨😨😧😧😳😵😶😵😳😨😨😳😵😶😶😵

[@d.b.cooper1]

Declaring a mayday seemed odd. Did they later correct it to a pan pan? I get it why they went to Chicago, but you’d never do that in a true mayday.