On Feb 15th 2026, a United Airlines Boeing 767-300, registration N657UA, aborted its transatlantic crossing and diverted to Dublin after encountering electrical system problems while preparing to enter oceanic airspace.
The aircraft was operating positioning flight UA-3907 from Munich to Newark and was cruising at FL340 approximately 310 nautical miles northwest of Dublin when the crew reported electrical issues involving the Integrated Drive Generator (IDG) on the right-hand Pratt & Whitney PW4060 engine. Complicating the situation, the crew was unable to determine the status of the Auxiliary Power Unit because the electrical system page failed to display on the Engine Indication and Crew Alerting System (EICAS).
With reduced electrical redundancy and limited system visibility, the crew elected to discontinue the oceanic crossing. The aircraft initially set course toward London Heathrow while heading back toward Europe. While over England, the pilots reassessed the situation and opted instead to divert to Dublin, turning around a second time.
The 767 landed safely in Dublin approximately 100 minutes after first reversing course over the North Atlantic.
The aircraft had arrived in Munich on Feb 11th 2026 and remained on the ground there for maintenance before departing on Feb 15th for its return to the United States. After landing in Dublin, the jet remained on the ground for about 20 hours for further technical attention before continuing on to Newark.
Integrated Drive Generators are critical components that supply electrical power to aircraft systems. While modern widebody aircraft are equipped with multiple layers of electrical redundancy, unresolved generator faults—particularly before entering remote oceanic airspace—typically prompt precautionary returns to ensure full system reliability before long overwater operations.
