Transatlantic jet forced to make emergency landing at Shannon airport after engine failure

United Airlines flight UA-134 was travelling from Newark in the US to Zurich, Switzerland when the crew declared an emergency at around 9.30am today. The Boeing 767-322(ER) jet was about 40 minutes west of Ireland at the time. There were 123 passengers and crew on board.

The flight crew reported an issue with one of the jet’s two engines. The pilot told controllers that the engine had been ‘damaged’ however it wasn’t clear whether the crew intentionally shut the engine down or if it failed in flight as a result of the damage.

Soon after the flight entered Irish airspace, the crew transmitted an emergency ‘squawk’ radio signal indicating to air traffic controllers and other aircraft they had an emergency on board.

In the meantime, air traffic controllers and authorities at Shannon Airport implemented emergency procedures ahead of the aircraft’s arrival. This involved alerting the local authority fire service, National Ambulance Service and An Garda Síochána.

Units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Shannon and Enns stations were mobilised to the airport in support of Shannon’s own fire and rescue crews. Ambulance paramedics; rapid response advanced paramedic units and an ambulance officer were also dispatched to the airport.

Airport and local authority fire crews were mobilised to designated holding points adjacent to the runway in advance of the jet’s arrival. The flight landed safely at 10.40am on its one operating engine.

The aircraft taxied to the terminal building accompanied by fire crews who later carried out a visual inspection of the troubled engine as well as the jet’s braking system to ensure there was no overheating during the emergency landing. Fire crews remained with the aircraft for a short time as a precaution. All services were stood down at around 11.15am.

Engineers were also waiting to meet the aircraft to inspect the engine. The aircraft is expected to remain grounded at the Shannon while the problem is investigated.

While a comment is awaited from the airline it’s understood that the passengers have been deplaned and are waiting for buses to transport them to Dublin from where they will be flown to Zurich later.