United Airlines 757 Made Emergency Diversion Twice in Two Days

DUBLIN— A United Airlines (UA) Boeing 757-200 was forced into two separate emergency diversions within just three days after suffering recurring engine problems. The aircraft remains grounded in Shannon (SNN), awaiting further checks.

The 26-year-old jet, operating United flight UA711 from Dublin (DUB) to Washington Dulles (IAD), first diverted on September 17. After undergoing maintenance, the same aircraft attempted a repositioning flight to Newark (EWR) on September 19, only to return once more with another engine issue.

Photo: By Russell Lee Photography from England – United B757, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40842624

United 757 Emergency Diversion Twice

The aircraft involved is a Boeing 757-200, registration N17133, powered by two Rolls-Royce RB211 engines. It first entered service in 1998 and has had a largely uneventful operational history until now.

On September 17, flight UA711 took off from Dublin bound for Washington Dulles. Cruising at 36,000 feet, the pilots detected an engine problem and quickly turned the jet back toward Dublin. The landing was safe, but passengers had to be rebooked onto other flights.

Two days later, United Airlines dispatched the same aircraft on a positioning flight to Newark. This time, there were no passengers on board.

Once again, the jet climbed to 36,000 feet before the crew reported a degraded left-hand engine and diverted to Shannon. The aircraft has remained there since.

According to tracking data from FlightRadar24, United has scheduled another attempt to move the aircraft back to Newark, again without passengers, for further technical assessment, PYOK reported.

Photo: By Emirates EK27 from Glasgow , Scotland – DSC_0880, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32270889

Passenger Compensation Under EU Regulations

Because UA711 was a passenger flight that diverted due to mechanical issues, travelers could be entitled to compensation under EU EC-261 rules. If their arrival at the final destination was delayed by more than three hours, each passenger may claim up to €600.

This framework applies to flights departing from EU airports, regardless of the airline’s nationality, offering strong protections for travelers affected by delays or diversions.

Photo: By Colin Brown Photography from St Louis, MO, USA – N558UA – Boeing 757-222 – United Airlines, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=84957386

The Boeing 757’s Enduring Role

Although Boeing ended 757 production in 2004, the aircraft continues to play a vital role for airlines such as United (UA) and Delta (DL). Its unique performance capabilities allow it to serve long, thin routes that other single-aisle aircraft cannot handle as efficiently.

Nicknamed the “Flying Pencil” for its long fuselage, the Boeing 757-300 holds the title of the longest single-aisle passenger aircraft ever built. Only 55 of that stretch model were produced out of more than 1,000 total 757 deliveries.

Beyond commercial service, the U.S. military operates the C-32, a modified version of the 757, to transport senior officials and dignitaries. This continued use underscores the type’s reliability and adaptability, despite its aging fleet.

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