United Airlines 767 Experiences Engine Problem

United Airlines’ Boeing 767-300ER, registered as N686UA, remains on the ground following an incident while departing as UA957 from Geneva (GVA) to Newark Liberty (EWR).

The incident saw the left engine shut down shortly after departure from Geneva Airport, forcing the airline to return to Geneva on Thursday morning.

United UA957 Returns to Geneva After Engine Shutdown

United Airlines flight UA957 was climbing to approximately 23,000 feet, based on flight data, after departing runway 22 when its left-hand engine produced a loud noise, according to those aboard the aircraft, as reported by The Aviation Herald.

In response, the crew shut down the engine and, as a precaution, returned to Geneva, where the aircraft touched down on Runway 22 about 50 minutes after departure.

Reports suggest the crew also declared an emergency during the return, so airport emergency vehicles positioned themselves as a precaution to meet the aircraft on arrival.

The Boeing 767, however, was able to taxi clear of the runway under its own power, and all passengers and crew safely exited the aircraft before the aircraft was removed from service for inspections to determine what happened after departure.

A passenger aboard the aircraft reported a rumbling noise from the left side of the aircraft and a smell resembling burning plastic. Passengers described the left engine as having blown after landing; however, these accounts came from passengers, not investigators or the crew.

Pratt & Whitney-powered Boeing 767 with United Airlines

N686UA is a Boeing 767-3CB(ER) that was delivered to Hawaiian Airlines as N592HA in February 2003, then transferred to United Airlines in August 2018 and eventually entered service as N686UA in May 2019.

The Boeing 767 is 23.6 years old and has two Pratt & Whitney PW4060 turbofan engines. While investigators work to determine what happened, the crew decided to return early in the climb.

Although the pilots on the United Airlines 767 departing for Newark Liberty chose to shut down one engine, these twin-engine aircraft can continue flying and land safely after shutting down one engine. The 767 helped pioneer ETOPS and redefined the capabilities of twin-engine aircraft for long-haul flying.

Since the incident, this Boeing 767 has remained on the ground in Geneva, with Flightradar24 data showing a 21 August 2026 Geneva-to-Newark ferry flight as UA3938, one day after the incident was cancelled. While the investigation continues, inspections of the Pratt & Whitney engine are underway to determine what repairs are required before the aircraft can return to service.

With this Boeing 767 outside the United States and away from a major United maintenance base, repairs could complicate the aircraft’s return to service, as ferrying parts or special technicians may be harder than if the work were carried out in New York.