refers to this incident:  http://www.aaib.dft.gov.uk/formal/n653ua/n653ua.htm

see also:  http://www.iasa-intl.com/nasavisit/bycomparison2.html  and  http://www.iasa-intl.com/pdf/United%20UK%20AAIB.doc  (a 430kb download)

Another emergency landing due to fire
from: John Flatekval, Waldwick
Sun, 1 Feb 1998 14:21:40 -0500 (EST)

I boarded United flight 853 from Newark to San Francisco after a one hour wait to check in due to computer problems. The Boeing 767 was not full as evidenced by the number of empty seats in connoisseur class. Four hours into the flight, the smell of smoke permeated the cabin from the first class section directly behind the cockpit. I figured there was an oven fire and all would be okay. Within a couple of minutes, the interior lights turned off and the air ducts stopped. All passengers were concerned, some more so than others, but the flight attendants continued their jobs as if nothing was happening.

I noticed one flight attendant rush by with a large fire extinguisher covered by table linens. The demeanor of the cabin crew led me to believe that everything was fine. Finally, the head flight attendant announced that all of the cabin crew should report to the front of the plane. At this point all on board knew there was a serious problem. We were told to that there was a fire on board and the pilot was making an emergency landing. The passengers were told to read the emergency landing manual and to practice the emergency landing position.

The plane began to descend and turn quickly. As we practiced the emergency position the flight crew told us to remove all sharp instruments, glasses, and pens from our person. When they yelled "brace" we were to assume the position. One of the attendants was noticeably shaken and was instructed to take her seat by the head attendant. At no point were passengers told at which airport, if any, the pilot would be attempting to land. In fact the only time the pilot addressed the passengers is when he said " Flight attendants, three minutes to touch down. Prepare for emergency procedures". Not knowing where we were, I decided to look out the window. Within 5 minutes the plane had dropped from cruising altitude to several hundred feet above snow capped mountains. Again, there was no indication that we going to land at an airport.

When the flight attendants yelled brace, we all held our breath until we felt the wheels touch the ground. The plane quickly went to the gate and was surrounded by fire personnel. All passengers were ordered off of the plane immediately. Luckily one of the passengers had been in the Salt Lake City airport before, because no United employee addressed the passengers. All 57 passengers were left to mill about the airport. The flight crew gathered in a huddle, knelt down and said a collective prayer of thanks. The head flight attendant claimed that this was only the second time in her 29 years of service that something this serious had happened. At no time did any United official address the emotional state of the passengers, many of whom were noticeably crying and trembling.

[Details of subsequent mistreatment at airport omitted for brevity.]

A couple of items need to be addressed. A.) Your web site contained a similar experience aboard a United 767 from Zurich to London on January 12, 1998. I think United should look into this problem immediately before the next emergency landing ends in disaster. B.) United personnel should be trained in addressing the emotional needs of the passengers, particularly after a near tragedy.

I have never been treated so poorly by so many different people in so many locations as I was by United on January 17, 1998. I will request that my company not pay the business class airfare, and rethink their carrier of choice.

Emergency landing
Mon, 12 Jan 1998 18:56:10 -0500 (EST)

As a long-term UA customer, my faith in United was somewhat dented by an incident at London Heathrow last week. I'd be interested if anyone has information about the "electrical fault" aboard UA965 from Zurich, Switzerland to Washington Dulles on Jan 9, causing an emergency landing in London? As the aircraft, a 767, started its engines in Zurich a continuous unfamiliar sound was heard by passengers from one engine. The aircraft remained on the ground at Kloten for several hours while the crew reportedly contacted UA's principal European base at Heathrow. UA London apparently advised that the flight should operate, but less than an hour after take-off (while luckily the 767 was still over land) the forward cabin and cockpit began to fill with smoke. The crew announced an emergency approach into LHR and the airplane descended very rapidly, other traffic having presumably been cleared. Once the aircraft came to a halt in London, where fire trucks awaited it, emergency chutes were deployed, but one failed to function.

The aircraft was evacuated and passengers were told by Heathrow fire crew to run away from the plane. They were given blankets and waited in a grassy area for an extended period before they were picked up by buses. The UA crew were reported uncommunicative and understandably shocked. Passengers were then taken to an airport hotel, re-united with their carry-on luggage and offered psychological counselling should they need it. Two were injured in the evacuation but there were no fatalities. I'd like to know:

(a) what "electrical" incident actually occurred and why the plane filled with smoke,

(b) what concerns the crew had on the ground in Zurich about the airworthiness of the plane and why its departure was delayed, and

(c) if there were safety concerns, how were they dealt with or -- if information from Zurich is correct -- why did the 767 attempt its flight after consultation with UA's London office?

As far as I know this incident has not been widely reported in the press, though it is recorded on the FAA's database. I am told that two attorneys aboard the flight are considering a case against United.