United Boeing 767 bound for Amsterdam diverts to Canada over engine issue

A United Airlines flight headed for Amsterdam diverted to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, late Sunday after the crew reported an engine issue over the Atlantic.

United Flight UA946 departed Washington Dulles International Airport at about 8:30 PM EDT on Sunday, with a scheduled flight time to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol of roughly eight hours. The aircraft was a 35-year-old Boeing 767-300ER registered as N644UA. The source describes it as one of the oldest Boeing 767s still in active service with United.

The jet climbed after departure and levelled off at 37,000 feet on its North Atlantic route. About four hours in, the crew received a cockpit indication pointing to a technical issue with one of the aircraft's two engines. They squawked 7700, the general transponder code for an emergency, and turned back west.

Tracking data showed the twin-engine aircraft heading for the easternmost tip of North America to land at the nearest suitable airfield. The crew requested a diversion to St. John's International Airport, where emergency response teams were briefed and positioned to assist as the aircraft descended.

Once technical assessments of N644UA are complete, United is expected to arrange a replacement aircraft or alternative travel plans to carry the passengers on to Amsterdam.