United Airlines Boeing 777-200 Bound for Hawaii Returns to LAX Due to Cockpit Smoke

A United Airlines flight bound for Hawaii had to return to Los Angeles International Airport just minutes after takeoff due to reports of smoke coming out of the Boeing 777-200’s cockpit.

On June 21st, a United Airlines flight departed from LAX. The flight experienced a delay of 15 minutes from its original 8:35 AM departure time. And with 360 passengers and 10 crew members on board, the plane was set to arrive at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu at 11:05 AM.

However, just 30 minutes into the flight, the crew reported smoke emanating from the cockpit and parts of the cabin. Subsequently, the captain reported the issue and initiated the plane’s return.

The aircraft landed at LAX only 45 minutes after take-off. The Los Angeles City Fire Department was on standby, ready to meet the flight on the apron. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported.

United rescheduled the passengers for a 4:15 PM flight on the same day, and they landed safely in Honolulu at approximately 7:00 PM. As of the moment, there is no official report as to what caused the problem.

Boeing 777-200

The Boeing 777-200 involved has been in service for almost 27 years. The Boeing 777-200 has been used primarily in transcontinental flights from and to the East and West Coasts. Additionally, it is also used for flights to Hawaii.

Regrettably, this isn’t the first time that an incident like this occurred in recent months involving a Boeing 777-200. Just last September, a United Airlines flight from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) aborted takeoff. The reason? Smoke was spotted in the cabin.

Within 10 minutes, fire and emergency services arrived to check on the plane. After which, 253 passengers and 13 crew members safely exited the plane. The plane was then brought back to the apron. Two individuals from this flight received medical attention due to smoke inhalation.

As for what caused the smoke, it was reported by a spokesperson for the Kennermerland Security Region that it may have originated from a “small, electrical short circuit.”