WASHINGTON, D.C. — A United Express flight bound for Georgia was forced to make an emergency return to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) Tuesday afternoon shortly after departure.
Incident Overview
United Express flight UA6321, operated by an Embraer E175 (registrationN85323), departed Dulles from runway 30 on a scheduled service to Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.
The flight proceeded normally through the initial climb until reaching 23,000 feet. At that altitude, the flight crew halted their ascent and notified air traffic control of an onboard emergency.
Emergency Response
The aircraft’s transponder was set to Squawk 7700, the international code for a general emergency, signaling to controllers that the flight required priority handling and a direct path back to the airport.
Details regarding the specific nature of the emergency have not yet been released, though the decision to stop the climb and return immediately suggests a technical or mechanical issue that required ground attention.
Landing and Status
Flight tracking data indicates the aircraft performed a rapid descent and positioned for a priority approach. The E175 touched down safely at Dulles approximately 45 minutes after its initial takeoff.
Flight Stats at a Glance:
- Aircraft: Embraer E175 (N85323)
- Departure: Washington Dulles (IAD)
- Target Destination: Savannah (SAV)
- Max Altitude Reached: 23,000 feet
- Emergency Code: 7700 (Priority Approach)
Emergency ground crews were reportedly on standby at IAD as a standard precaution, though the aircraft landed without further incident. United Airlines has not yet commented on the cause of the diversion or the re-accommodation plans for the passengers on board.
