1 / 8A United Airlines flight, Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was recently forced to return to Washington Dulles Airport shortly after takeoff. The Munich-bound flight UA108 experienced a mid-air scare on its scheduled transatlantic journey on July 25, prompting the crew to declare a ‘MAYDAY’. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has experienced several incidents and technical issues since its introduction. (Image AP) Below are some of the most notable incidents involving the Boeing Dreamliner:
2 / 8Air India Ahmedabad-London flight | In June, a London-bound Air India plane crashed within moments of takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. Among those killed in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner were 169 Indians, 53 British, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a Brit, was the only survivor. One of the victims was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. (Image PTI)
3 / 8Ethiopian Airlines 787 Dreamliner | In July 2013, an empty Ethiopian Airlines 787 parked at London’s Heathrow airport caught fire on the ground in an incident that was likely to have been caused by a short-circuit in an Emergency Locator Transmitter. (Image CNBCTV18.com file)
4 / 8Boeing 787 operated by LATAM Airlines | At least 50 people were injured when a Boeing 787 operated by LATAM Airlines dropped unexpectedly mid-flight from Sydney to Auckland in March 2024. It had a strong shaking, resulting in the hospitalisation of ten passengers and three cabin staff members, according to the South American carrier, which is investigating the cause. The flight, which carried 263 passengers and nine cabin crew members, arrived at Auckland Airport on the afternoon of March 11 as scheduled. (Image X)
5 / 8Chennai-bound British Airways | A British Airways flight headed for Chennai was diverted to London on June 15 due to a technical issue. After nearly two hours in the air, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner landed safely at Heathrow Airport. (Image Reuters)
6 / 8Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner | An Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa to Mumbai was forced to make an emergency landing in the city in June 2025. On June 27, 2025, flight ET640 encountered a cabin depressurisation incident in mid-flight. At 1:55 am, the aircraft safely landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) with 300 passengers and 11 crew members. (Image Reuters)
7 / 8United Airlines 787-8: In January 2025, a United Airlines 787-8 Dreamliner experienced a sudden loss of altitude while flying over Ivory Coast airspace. The Washington-bound flight, which was carrying 245 passengers, eight flight attendants, and three pilots, made an emergency landing in Lagos. The problem caused severe altitude fluctuations, injuring 38 passengers, including 16 critically. (Image Reuters)
8 / 8Versions of the 787: The 787 is now available in three versions: the 787-8, which can carry up to 248 passengers over routes of up to 13,530 kilometres (8,400 miles); the 787-9, which can carry up to 296 passengers over 14,010 km; and the 787-10, which can carry up to 330 passengers over distances of up to 11,910 kilometres. The 787-8 is the smallest of the three variations. (Image Reuters)
