A United Airlines Boeing 787-9 returned to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) shortly after takeoff on March 2, 2026, and evacuated passengers on the taxiway after the crew reported a possible engine fire, authorities and the airline said.
Video posted on social media showed the Dreamliner stopped on the airfield with smoke coming from the left engine as emergency vehicles surrounded the aircraft. Other clips showed passengers sliding down inflatable chutes and moving away from the jet while firefighters responded.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the aircraft returned to LAX at about 11:20 a.m. local time after a left-engine issue. The agency said it will investigate. The incident triggered a temporary ground stop at LAX, according to FAA advisories cited by the Associated Press.
United Flight 2127 had departed for Newark Liberty International Airport. The airline said the crew returned to Los Angeles to address the possible engine fire. “Customers deplaned via slides and airstairs and were bused to the terminal,” United said in a statement.
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded and confirmed the fire remained contained within about an hour of the aircraft’s landing. The fire department assisted with evacuating more than 250 passengers and crew, and United said it transported customers back to the terminal and worked to get them to their destinations.
Several news outlets, citing the airline, said a couple of the passengers suffered minor cuts that required bandages, but there were no other injuries.
United did not identify the engine involved or provide a possible cause.
