United 767 Pilots Aborts Takeoff at High-Speed at Zurich Airport

United 767 Pilots Aborts Takeoff at High-Speed at Zurich Airport

ZURICH- A United Airlines (UA) Boeing 767-300 operating Flight UA12 from Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Chicago O’Hare (ORD) had to abort its takeoff at high speed on June 24, 2025.

The aircraft, which was carrying 142 passengers and crew members, stopped on Runway 16 after the flight crew initiated a rejected takeoff at around 145 knots. Emergency responders quickly evacuated passengers safely, and the aircraft was cleared from the runway nearly four hours later.

United Airlines Flight UA12, operated by a Boeing 767-300 (registration N684UA), was scheduled to depart Zurich Airport (ZRH) at 09:50 local time bound for Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).

During the takeoff roll on Runway 16, the flight crew executed a high-speed rejected takeoff at approximately 145 knots, which is well above the typical V1 threshold for aircraft of this type.

The aircraft came to a complete stop just past the intersection with Runway 28. Due to the hard braking, several main landing gear tires deflated. Passengers were evacuated via mobile stairs directly onsite, with no injuries reported.

Initial communications from the flight crew to Zurich tower suggested that the pilots believed they could vacate the runway and proceed with post-abort checklists. However, air traffic control instructed them to hold their position due to the emergency response team already mobilizing.

While United Airlines has not released specific technical details, a spokesperson confirmed to Swiss media outlet 20 Minuten that a “technical issue” led to the aborted takeoff. The airline is working to rebook affected passengers on alternative flights to ensure minimal delays.

The aircraft remained stationary on the runway for almost four hours before being towed to a remote stand. Although there was a temporary disruption in operations at Zurich Airport, air traffic resumed on alternate runways during the incident response.

Unusual Abort Above V1 Speed

Aborted takeoffs are standard safety procedures usually carried out below V1 speed—a critical point beyond which continuing takeoff is generally required. For the Boeing 767-300, V1 speed typically falls below 140 knots, depending on the aircraft’s weight and weather conditions.

Data from Flightradar24 indicates that UA12’s rejection of takeoff occurred between 143–145 knots, categorizing it among the rare 2% of rejected takeoffs executed at or above 120 knots. Such high-speed aborts are typically reserved for emergencies involving critical system failures.

Swiss aviation authorities and airline engineers are expected to conduct a formal investigation into the incident.

Similar Incidents

An Emirates Airline (EK) flight scheduled to depart from Chennai International Airport (MAA) to Dubai International Airport (DXB) aborted its takeoff on June 8, 2025, after detecting a technical fault during taxiing.

Additionally, a United Airlines (UA) flight from Wilmington International Airport (ILM) to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) was forced to halt its takeoff roll on May 24, 2025, due to a complete engine shutdown just before takeoff.

The Emirates (EK) Boeing 777 prepared for departure at Terminal D1 in Chennai (MAA) when, around 9:50 AM IST, the pilots noticed a system anomaly during taxiing. The flight crew immediately contacted air traffic control and requested to abort the takeoff to ensure safety.

Emergency response teams quickly arrived at Chennai Airport (MAA). The aircraft was safely towed back to the gate, where Emirates’ technical team commenced diagnostics. Despite early troubleshooting efforts, the issue persisted, leading to the flight’s cancellation, which affected all 312 passengers onboard.

In a separate incident two weeks earlier, United Airlines (UA) faced a comparable situation at Wilmington International Airport (ILM). The aircraft, delayed for over five hours, began its takeoff roll before the pilots suddenly halted the plane. Passengers later discovered that one engine had failed, resulting in a return to the gate and rescheduling the flight for the following morning.

Safety Protocols and Emergency Response

Both incidents are deemed rejected takeoffs (RTOs), an essential phase where flight crews must act decisively before reaching the V1 speed—the point at which takeoff is irreversible. Aviation safety standards mandate that pilots must abort takeoff upon identifying any serious fault before this threshold.

In the United Airlines (UA) incident, the captain reportedly cited a generator failure tied to critical hydraulic systems. Although rare, these failures can arise from various factors, including:

  • Compressor stalls
  • Bird strikes
  • Fuel system leaks
  • Foreign object debris (FOD)
  • Component detachment
  • Fire or overheating in engine compartments

Both aircraft involved in these incidents—widebody long-haul jets—are designed to manage engine failures and incorporate multiple system redundancies to ensure passenger and crew safety during high-pressure scenarios.

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Image related to the incident

Based on an article from aviationa2z.com: https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/06/25/united-pilots-aborts-takeoff-at-zurich-airport/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=united-pilots-aborts-takeoff-at-zurich-airport

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