United Airlines UA3 Chicago-Zurich declares emergency

A United Airlines flight from Chicago to Zurich has made a U-turn in its final moments and currently appears to be rerouting to Gander (YQX).

United Airlines Flight UA3, operated by a Boeing 767-300ER, departed from Chicago O’Hare International Airport. The flight crew performed the diversion during the transatlantic crossing.

United flight UA3 began a turn before screeching emergency transponder code 7700. The type of emergency that caused the diversion to go off course is not yet known.

03:50 UTC: Descent to Gander (YQX)

Available flight data shows the flight may have returned to a normal squawk code. The flight crew is currently continuing the diversion. The flight is currently descending below 10,000 feet in the Gander region. The diversion airport is now confirmed as Gander International Airport (YQX).

Currently, flight data is limited, but United flight UA3 now appears to be on final for Gander (YQX), crossing 700 feet.

0400 UTC: Landed Gander (YQX)

The United Airlines flight UA originally flew from Chicago to Zurich. The flight has now landed at the diversion airport at Gander International Airport. The flight crew turned around before screaming the emergency transponder code 7700 today.

The aircraft for the flight to Zurich was a Boeing 767-300 with the registration number N658UA. This is a 31.9 year old airframe from United Airlines. It has been in use by the airline since it was first delivered from the factory in March 1993.

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