Boeing 787-9 N24972 incident near Los Angeles, California

Preliminary information

On March 2, 2026, at 1100 Pacific Standard Time, United Airlines flight 2127, a Boeing 787-9, registration N24972, powered by two General Electric GEnx™-1B76A/P2 turbofan engines, experienced a No. 1 (left) engine surge during climb from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles, California. There were no injuries to the 2 flight crew, 9 cabin crew, or 239 passengers on board. United Airlines operated the airplane as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 domestic passenger flight destined for Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Newark, New Jersey.

According to the flight crew statements, the flight began with an uneventful pre-flight, taxi, and takeoff from runway 25R. The First Officer was the pilot flying and the Captain was the pilot monitoring. While climbing through 17,000 feet, they experienced strong vibrations in the controls and observed decreasing left engine N2 speed. A compressor stall and a L ENGINE FIRE message was displayed on the engine indicating and crew alerting system (EICAS) shortly after. The First Officer transferred controls to the Captain and began executing the engine fire checklist. One fire bottle was discharged and the engine fire warning extinguished after about 30 seconds. The warning returned on the EICAS, and the second fire bottle was discharged. The crew declared an emergency, advised ATC of a suspected engine fire, requested clearance for immediate return to LAX, and asked for airport crash and fire rescue (CFR) assistance. The crew continued receiving intermittent fire warnings during their return to LAX.

A single engine, ILS approach and landing on Runway 25L was accomplished without incident. After landing, the L ENGINE FIRE EICAS warning returned and the crew decided to stop taxi and evacuate while still on the taxiway. While the crew was performing the evacuation checklist and informing passengers, a flight attendant told them she saw fire coming from the left engine. Aircraft rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) personnel brought airstairs to right-side door R1 and slides were deployed for the remaining right-side doors R2 and R3. The Captain stayed onboard to assist firefighters sweeping the aircraft while the First Officer went outside to assist passenger evacuation.

Figure 1: Airport ARFF response after landing

Post-incident examination of the airplane found sooting and thermal damage concentrated around the engine core module’s external surfaces and extending up toward the pylon connection. Both left and right thrust reverser halves showed minimal thermal damage. Borescope inspection found damage in the high-pressure turbine.

Figure 2: Right side of No. 1 engine with inboard thrust reverser half opened

The NTSB invited qualified parties to participate in the investigation, including the Federal Aviation Administration, the Boeing Company, United Airlines, and General Electric Aerospace. NTSB specialists supporting this investigation include Flight Data Recorders, Materials, and Powerplants.

The investigation is ongoing.

Text from the NTSB; a preliminary report can change and names no cause. Open the NTSB docket for DCA26LA184 for the full record.