United Airlines low fuel mayday triggers Australia emergency landing

SYDNEY: A shortage of fuel triggered a mayday call on a United Airlines flight crossing the Pacific from Los Angeles to Sydney yesterday, spurring Australian authorities into high alert.

Police called a “full emergency response” and brief ly closed major roads surrounding Sydney airport as a precaution at 6.30am ( 2036 GMT Wednesday) after the pilot raised the alert.

The fuel- efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliner – which typically travels some 12,000 kilometres across the Pacific in 15 hours – landed without incident.

Some 180 passengers and 14 crew ‘disembarked normally’ from UA839 “following a mechanical issue”, United Airlines confirmed.

The country’s airspace authority, Airservices Australia, said the response was standard procedure when a mayday is called.

“( UA 839) had a low fuel situation and a mayday due to fuel was advised which initiated a level III emergency response,” Airservices Australia added in a statement.

Most passengers on board were reportedly unaware the alarm had been raised.

“Everyone was calm, there was no panic, there was no announcement,” passenger Ian Lambert told Channel Nine News.

“Not a hint, not a mention of any impending doom or mayday situation,” Channel Nine presenter Liz Hayes added.