A United Airlines flight bound for Tokyo was forced to make an emergency diversion to Seattle on Saturday after experiencing a technical issue five hours into its journey over the Pacific Ocean.
The flight, UA32, departed from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at 10:45 AM PDT on July 12, 2025, for what was scheduled to be a 10-hour trip to Tokyo Narita (NRT). While cruising at 36,000 feet, the crew of the Boeing 78-9 Dreamliner declared an emergency, signaling distress to air traffic control with a 7700 squawk code.
The pilots rerouted the aircraft to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), the nearest major airport with the necessary resources to handle the situation. The aircraft landed safely without incident, and passengers were deplaned.
United Airlines confirmed the diversion was a precautionary measure. The airline arranged for a new departure to Tokyo at 5:45 PM PDT the same day and provided assistance to passengers to accommodate their travel plans.
While the specific nature of the technical fault was not immediately disclosed, the airline stated that passenger safety remains its highest priority. Such incidents are typically reviewed by aviation authorities like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ensure all safety protocols were followed.
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