DENVER, CO — A United Airlines flight bound for Boise, Idaho, was forced to make an abrupt U-turn and declare an emergency shortly after takeoff from Denver International Airport (DEN) Sunday evening.
Incident Details
United Flight UA1125, operated by a Boeing 737-800 (Registration: N11206), departed Denver on schedule. However, roughly 35 minutes into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 38,000 feet over Wyoming, the flight crew issued an emergency declaration.
Flight tracking data shows the aircraft performed a sharp southbound turn, transitioning from its cruise altitude into a rapid descent as it vectored back toward Denver.
Emergency Response
While the specific nature of the emergency has not yet been confirmed by United Airlines, “declaring an emergency” allows the pilots to receive priority handling from Air Traffic Control (ATC) and ensures that emergency services are standing by on the runway as a precaution.
The aircraft is currently descending through Colorado airspace. United Airlines has not yet released a statement regarding the number of passengers on board or the specific mechanical or medical issue that prompted the return.
UPDATE #1
Safely landed on runway 34R, 1 hour and 22 minutes after takeoff.
UPDATE #2
Vacated the runway.
