United flight diverts due to fuel leak

UNITED AIRLINES BOEING 777-222 N2748U (MSN 64994)

United Airlines flight UA130, en route from Tokyo Haneda (HND/RJTT) to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR/KEWR), was diverted to Anchorage (ANC/PANC) after a technical issue with the fuel occurred mid-flight. The flight from Tokyo Haneda took off at 6.14pm local (9:14 UTC), but after seven hours in the air, the crew reported a suspected fuel leak, potentially from the aircraft's port side.

Following the leak discovery, the crew made the decision to divert to Anchorage, where they successfully landed at 17:13 UTC. Upon arrival, the aircraft, a Boeing 777-200ER registered N791UA, shut down one engine (Engine No. 2) and taxied to the terminal using only a single engine. The flight had approximately 290 passengers and crew members aboard,

This Boeing 777-200ER, which is over 27 years old, is powered by Pratt and Whitney PW4000 engines. Interestingly, this aircraft had been involved in a similar issue just a month prior, when a water leakage from the cabin ceiling prompted an investigation.

This fuel leak incident is similar to a previous event with a United Airlines Boeing 777-300. Flight UA830, which had departed Sydney Airport (SYD/YSSY) for San Francisco International Airport (SFO/KSFO), was also forced to return to Sydney after just two hours of flying due to a midair fuel leak. This incident, back then, marked United Airlines' fifth emergency in just over a week.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: United Airlines

Code: UA/UAL

Aircraft: Boeing 777-222

Registration: N791UA

Serial Number: 26933

Engines: 2 x PW PW4090

First Flew: 21/08/1997

Age: 27.7 Years