Los Angeles, CA – March 2, 2026 — A United Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner was forced to return to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) this morning after reporting a possible engine issue shortly after departure.
United Flight UA2127, bound for Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), departed LAX at approximately 10:15 a.m. local time with 256 passengers and 12 crew members onboard. Shortly after takeoff, the flight crew reported a problem with one of the aircraft’s engines and declared an emergency with air traffic control.
The aircraft safely landed back at LAX around 11:19 a.m., where emergency equipment was standing by. After stopping on the taxiway, evacuation slides were deployed and passengers exited the aircraft as a precaution.
No serious injuries were reported. Emergency crews from Los Angeles Fire Department responded and inspected the aircraft.
Air Traffic Control Audio
Air traffic control communications during the incident were captured by monitoring enthusiasts and are circulating online. In the recordings, the flight crew can be heard declaring the emergency and coordinating their return with LAX Tower and Approach Control.
Typical emergency phraseology heard in similar situations includes:
- Declaration of emergency
- Request for priority handling
- Coordination for runway assignment
- Emergency equipment requested on standby
As of publication, no official FAA transcript has been released.
Video Coverage of the Incident
United 787 Emergency Landing at LAX
Passenger Evacuation Footage
Impact at LAX
The Federal Aviation Administration temporarily slowed operations at LAX while the aircraft was cleared from the movement area. Arrivals and departures resumed normal flow later in the afternoon.
United Airlines stated it is rebooking passengers and conducting a maintenance inspection of the aircraft. The FAA is expected to investigate the cause of the reported engine malfunction.
For Scanner and Aviation Monitoring Enthusiasts
Listeners monitoring LAX during the incident likely heard activity on:
- LAX Tower
- LAX Ground Control
- SoCal Approach
- LAFD Airport Response Channels
Emergency aircraft situations often generate additional coordination traffic between tower, approach, airport operations, and ARFF units.
Additional ATC recordings may become available through aviation monitoring networks in the coming days.
This is a developing story. Updates will be posted as more information becomes available.