Passengers onboard a United Airlines Boeing 767-400 that diverted to Ireland last week have shared fresh details of the midair engine incident, describing a loud bang, “violent” vibrations, and an apparent hole in one of the engines after landing. Roughly three hours into its journey on July 11, Flight UA509 from Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) made an emergency diversion to Shannon Airport (SNN) after one of its engines failed.
The scary situation left many onboard fearing the worst, with several passengers reportedly “praying” and “crying” as uncertainty spread through the cabin. The 24-year-old widebody landed safely at Shannon, where one traveler reported seeing a hole in the engine the “size of a bowling ball or two.”
Passengers Recount Bang And Heavy Vibrations On United 767
The incident was first reported by The Aviation Herald, which detailed vibrations coming from the right-hand engine, as well as an odor onboard, approximately three hours into the flight. The flight crew then shut down the affected engine and descended to FL200 before landing in Shannon around one hour later. A passenger on the flight — named as Zach K. — shared more details of the midair scare with PEOPLE, stating there was a “sudden, loud bang” that led to the aircraft “shaking violently.”
He described a loud, continuous vibration that could be both felt and heard throughout the cabin, as well as an accompanying odor. Flight attendants were then seen looking out of the windows towards the right-hand engine, instructing passengers to open their shades so they could get a better view. The vibrations eventually stopped, likely after the engine was shut down, and the flight made a safe landing in Shannon around an hour later.
However, passengers were reportedly kept on the plane for another 90 minutes as the aircraft was inspected and cleared to taxi to the apron. It was during disembarkation that Zach claimed to have spotted a huge hole in the affected engine, stating,
“A hole the size of a bowling ball or two is missing from the right engine.”
The aircraft involved was N76065, a Boeing 767-400 delivered to Continental Airlines in May 2002 before joining United’s fleet in 2010 following the United-Continental merger. Flight tracking data shows the 767 was cruising at 34,000 feet approximately 280 nautical miles south of Shannon when it diverted course.
The widebody is equipped with two General Electric CF6 engines. According to ch-aviation data, this airframe has accumulated over 90,000 flight hours and 14,500 flight cycles during its 24 years in service. United confirmed that the flight had a total of 215 passengers and 11 crew onboard.
The remainder of the flight was canceled, with United providing passengers with hotel accommodations and compensation, before rebooking them on the next available flights. The aircraft remains grounded in Shannon a week after the incident. Simple Flying has reached out to United Airlines for an update on the aircraft, but a representative could not be reached before publication.
The Chicago-based airline expects to take delivery of up to 20 737 MAX 10s in 2027.
Like its US legacy carrier peers, United continues to operate a substantial number of older aircraft models, including its aging Airbus A319/A320, Boeing 757, 767 and 777 fleet. Although they are not as efficient as next-generation successors, they remain valuable assets as they are largely paid off and depreciated.
That is particularly true of its Boeing 767s, which rank among the oldest widebody fleets at any major US carrier. United operates 16 Boeing 767-400s with an average age of 25 years, as well as a larger and older 767-300 fleet consisting of 37 aircraft with an average age exceeding 30 years.
The carrier plans to retire its 767s in full by 2030, and a phased withdrawal is already underway. The 767-300s will be retired first, with all aircraft earmarked to leave by the end of 2027. United will be replacing these jets with new Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
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