DUBLIN — A Newark-bound United Airlines transatlantic flight was forced to divert to Dublin Airport today after experiencing a sudden loss of both its autopilot and autothrottle systems high above the Atlantic Ocean.
Flight UA169, operated by a 25-year-old Boeing 767-400ER (registration N76054), departed Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) at 14:45 CEST scheduled for Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). The twin-engine aircraft climbed to a cruising altitude of 34,000 feet over France and had been airborne for approximately three hours when the technical glitch occurred.
While navigating over the Atlantic Ocean, the aircraft simultaneously lost its autopilot and autothrottle functions, the core automated flight control systems responsible for maintaining direction, altitude, and engine thrust control according to source.
Key Incident Information
| Detail | Flight Data |
| Flight Number | UA169 |
| Route | Venice (VCE) $\rightarrow$ Newark (EWR) |
| Aircraft | Boeing 767-400ER (Reg: N76054, ~25 years old) |
| Cruising Altitude | 34,000 ft |
| Urgency Code | PAN-PAN declared |
| Diversion Point | Dublin Airport (DUB) |
In response to the sudden system disengagement, the flight crew declared a PAN-PAN emergency—an international radio call signaling an urgent situation that requires priority handling without posing an immediate threat to the aircraft’s integrity.
The pilots took manual control of the Boeing 767, hand-flying the heavy widebody jet across the remaining oceanic segment to execute a safe turn back toward land. Both automated systems were eventually restored during the diversion process.
The flight landed safely at Dublin Airport, where it was met on the taxiway by the airport fire service as a standard precautionary measure due to the heavy landing weight associated with long-haul oceanic operations.
United Airlines confirmed the diversion and stated that the aircraft will remain grounded in Dublin overnight while maintenance crews perform a thorough technical inspection before returning the plane to service.
