Tuesday, January 28, 2025 A United Airlines Boeing 767-400, en route from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to San Juan, Puerto Rico, made an emergency return to Newark after a fire alarm was detected mid-flight. Thanks to the swift actions of the crew, the aircraft landed safely, with no injuries reported. The flight, identified as UA2143, departed Newark on January 25 for Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU).
Approximately 200 nautical miles into the journey, at an altitude of 31,000 feet, a fire alarm from the cockpit interrupted the flight. The crew immediately initiated emergency protocols, turning the aircraft back to Newark and coordinating with air traffic control. While the situation was managed with urgency, the crew confirmed no additional assistance was required.
The aircraft, registered as N59053, landed safely on Newark’s runway 22R roughly 50 minutes after the alarm was triggered. Passengers were safely evacuated, and no injuries occurred. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire alarm.
Grounded at Newark for over 27 hours, the aircraft is undergoing extensive inspections to identify any mechanical or system issues. To minimize the impact on passengers, United Airlines deployed a replacement Boeing 767-400, registered as N76062, allowing the flight to resume its journey to San Juan. Passengers experienced a delay of approximately five hours before reaching their destination.