A United Airlines aircraft en route to New York was forced to return to London Heathrow Airport after experiencing an engine malfunction mid-flight.

The Boeing 767-300, operating flight UA147, took off from Heathrow at 3:44 PM today. However, approximately ten minutes after departure, while flying above 18,000 feet, the aircraft made the decision to return for an emergency landing.

Emergency Code Transmitted

According to aviation tracking platform Flightradar24, the aircraft transmitted an emergency code via transponder at 3:55 PM. United Airlines informed passengers that the decision to return was due to a “technical issue.”

Aviation news site AviationSource later confirmed that the issue stemmed from an engine failure.

Safe Landing Achieved

The aircraft was carrying 70 passengers and 11 cargo loads. Originally bound for New York’s Newark Airport, the flight altered its course due to the technical issue and safely landed back at Heathrow at 4:37 PM.

In an official statement, United Airlines said:

• “United flight 147 returned to London Heathrow Airport to address a potential mechanical issue. The flight landed safely and was subsequently canceled. We are working to rebook our customers on the next available flight to Newark.”

The airline also stated that they are working on additional flight options to minimize inconvenience for affected passengers.