"United flight 1544 to Las Vegas returned to Newark Liberty International Airport to address a possible mechanical issue. The flight landed safely, and all passengers deplaned normally at the gate. We have arranged for a different aircraft to take our customers to Las Vegas this morning. "
A Reddit post suggested that there might have been an oil pressure issue in the left engine. Simple Flying has reached out to United Airlines for further details regarding the mechanical problem.
The FAA has launched an investigation into what is being attributed as a possible engine issue. In a statement, the agency said:
"United Airlines Flight 1544 returned safely to Newark Liberty International Airport around 6:40 a.m. local time on Tuesday, Feb. 25, after the crew reported possible engine issues. The Boeing 757-200 was heading to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. The FAA will investigate. "
United has arranged another B757 aircraft with registration N13110 for replacement . The new flight to Las Vegas was scheduled to depart at \~10:15 local time, more than four hours later than originally planned.
The aircraft involved in this incident is registered as N48127 and has been in service for over \~27 years according to planespotters.net.
In January alone there were two other emergency landings involving United Airlines flights at Newark according PIX11 reports; on January \~18th a B767-\~400 en route Puerto Rico made an emergency landing due potential mechanical issues reported by FAA while another B767 operating Flight UA2143 also bound Puerto Rico had turn around due fire alarm detected onboard on January \~25th .
This latest incident adds up concern about recent trend accidents involving air travel within United States including mid-air jolt injuring six people aboard Nigeria-Washington D.C bound UAL Flight \~613 forcing it back Lagos late January among others incidents like Delta Air Lines haze cabin returning Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Intl or even upside down landing Toronto Pearson earlier month both involving Delta flights yet all passengers survived latter case though injuries reported former one slides deployed upon landing safely ATL airport according airline statements respectively .