BREAKING United 777-300ER EMERGENCY LANDING at Sydney Airport March 11, 2024

There was no fire on that aircraft - not after take off, nor on approach and landing. It suffered what looks to be a hydraulic failure, probably from a breached hydraulic line on the right main gear. The ‘smoke’ on take off was the hydraulic fluid spraying out. That’s why the gear was extended by gravity, leading to the gear doors staying open but the landing. You can see the proof of this after the aircraft had been parked for some time - a puddle of hydraulic fluid can be seen expanding on the apron from under the rear wheel area of the right bogie. The smoke coming from the gear at that time is from the hydraulic fluid coming into contact with the hot brake assembly. A single hydraulic system failure is no major issue, but they would’ve been in contact with UA engineering straight after takeoff, who then would’ve directed them to return to SYD rather than continue for another 11 hours on only two hydraulic systems.

We have to be grateful these aircraft have redundancy hydraulic circuits well done to the flight crew for getting back safely.

The gear doors hanging open like that typically indicates the gear was lowered using the alternate/emergency method.

I'm now retired and flew the 777 at UA for over 20 years and never had one single inflight emergency. It is a great aircraft and the crew did an excellent job. As the saying goes all is well that ends well.

This time it’s not Boeing’s problem, but United Airlines maintenance issues

I saw this in flight today. I was just north of Sydney airport and the aircraft flew directly overhead about 3 min after takeoff. There was a trail of white smoke or fluid, from where I was looking directly upwards it looked like it was coming from the tail. It was unusual, like a wing contrail but off the tip of the tail. This explains it!

well, at least none of the wheels fell off this one....

0:32 that actually looks like some type of leak coming from the gear, not smoke

Weird how this never made it onto the news, too much interest in dodgy bad Royals photo edits

Looks like a line burst causing depletion of the center hydraulic system. That would cause an alternate gear extension. The smoke on lift off is probably aeration of hydraulic fluid. Smoke after landing is probably remaining hydraulic fluid dripping onto the hot brakes. The smoke dissipates as the brakes cool back down in the breeze.

Either United's problems are previously being under-reported, or they are seemingly suddenly having an unusual number of problems. Be assured that luck has nothing to do with it.

The tires didn't get the memo that this was a non-smoking flight.

WTF is going on with United Airlines lately. They really need to investigate their maintenance people.

Great footage, mate but please invest in a fuzzy mike cover, wind is loud.

Wow thank god everybody came out ok.🙏

Fantastic capture! May I feature these scenes in one of my next episodes? Of course with a link back to your original video. All the best to you :)

These things happen. The pilot and crew did an amazing job to keep everyone informed and calm. Great work.

Great to have a place where all the aviation experts can meet.

The internet + LiveATC is half the reason we know about all these things. Seems like systems working as intended, lost 1 system, have 2 backups, decide to return to take a different plane. Seems like the real world where pre-internet we never would have heard about it.

10 years ago my family and I were on a United flight from Rafael Hernandez International Airport in Puerto Rico to Phoenix Via Newark with a 2 hour layover and the departure was late due to plane problems causing us to miss our connecting flight. Well we slept on the floor at the Newark airport where stuck for 19 hours and it sucked bad. No reimbursement, no motel and not even a invitation into the lounge. NEVER AGIN!