United Airlines Boeing 757-200 Diverts to Dublin Due to Hydraulic Issues

On August 6th, 2024, a United Airlines Boeing 757-200, registration N19136, operating flight UA-119 from Edinburgh, Scotland (UK) to Chicago O’Hare, Illinois (USA), with 181 people on board, was forced to divert to Dublin, Ireland, due to hydraulic problems encountered while en route over the Atlantic Ocean.

Incident Overview:

• Flight Details and Hydraulic Issue: The aircraft was cruising at FL340 (34,000 feet), approximately 100 nautical miles south of Keflavik, Iceland, and about 800 nautical miles northwest of Dublin when the crew detected hydraulic issues. Despite this, the crew informed air traffic control that all other systems were operating normally, and they anticipated no further complications. As a precautionary measure, they opted to turn around and divert to Dublin Airport.
• Communication with ATC: The crew initially requested to land on Dublin’s runway 28R, however, air traffic control instructed them to prepare for a landing on runway 28L. The crew confirmed that they expected to vacate the runway safely unless the situation deteriorated. The aircraft continued to Dublin and landed safely on runway 28L about two hours after making the decision to divert.
• Aftermath and Flight Cancellation: Following the safe landing, the remainder of flight UA-119 was cancelled. The Boeing 757 remained on the ground in Dublin for several hours after the landing, and it was not estimated to depart again until the next day, likely awaiting further inspection and repair of the hydraulic system.

Conclusion:

The incident highlights the professionalism of the flight crew in managing an in-flight hydraulic issue over the Atlantic and ensuring the safe diversion and landing of the aircraft in Dublin. No injuries were reported among the 181 passengers and crew, and the situation was handled efficiently, though passengers were delayed due to the cancellation of the remainder of the flight. The aircraft was grounded for further checks to ensure the safety of future operations.