Are Boeing 777 grounded?

United Airlines says FAA has cleared 52 Boeing 777s to fly again after they were grounded for engine failure. United's 52 Pratt & Whitney-powered Boeing 777s have been grounded since an engine failure in February 2021. The airline plans to begin flying the aircraft this month and bring them back gradually.



As of late February 2026, there is no global grounding of the entire Boeing 777 fleet, but a specific subset remains under intense scrutiny. Approximately 52 older Boeing 777-200 and 777-200ER aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney PW4000-112 engines have faced significant operational challenges. In early 2026, United Airlines—the only US carrier using this engine type—formally moved at least 14 of these aircraft into long-term storage in Victorville, California. This follows a history of engine blade fatigue issues and a 2028 FAA deadline for expensive integrated cowling redesigns. While the 777-300ER and the new 777X (currently in flight testing for a 2027 debut) are flying normally, these specific older models are effectively being "phased out" or "grounded by economics" because the cost of required safety modifications exceeds their remaining value.

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As of August 2023, the Triple Seven has been involved in 35 aviation accidents and incidents, including 8 hull losses (three ground casualties) with 541 fatalities (one ground casualty).

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Other major 777 incidents While the 777 remains one of the safest aircraft of all time, there have been a few incidents resulting in hull losses and fatalities. On January 17th, 2008, British Airways flight 38 became the first hull loss of the 777 when it crashed just short of Runway 27L at London Heathrow.

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The Boeing 777 (BA. N) jet lost altitude about one minute after departure in heavy rain, descending from 2,100 feet to about 748 feet above the water before the crew recovered from the descent.

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US NTSB cites United crew failure in Boeing 777 altitude loss incident. WASHINGTON, Aug 10 (Reuters) - The National Transportation Safety Board on Thursday cited United Airlines (UAL. O) crew failure in a December 2022 flight that sharply lost altitude before recovering shortly after departing Kahului, Hawaii.

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A higher elevation will require a longer climb, meaning the aircraft will burn more fuel in order to reach its cruising altitude. Additionally, 35,000 feet gives more time for airline crew to address any unexpected mid-flight incidents.

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In the middle, at the back Nonetheless, a TIME investigation that looked at 35 years of aircraft accident data found the middle rear seats of an aircraft had the lowest fatality rate: 28%, compared with 44% for the middle aisle seats. This logically makes sense too.

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What makes the plane so expensive? The 777-300ER can carry 365 passengers compared with the 787-9's capacity of 280. The GE engines on the 777 model develop 62% more thrust than the 787's two engines. The plane is also longer than the Dreamliner, has a greater wingspan and a greater wing area, and is taller.

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Modern aircraft with two engines flying transatlantic (the most common models used for transatlantic service being the Airbus A330, Boeing 767, Boeing 777 and Boeing 787) have to be ETOPS certified.

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According to experts, the model (737-800) is considered to be the safest aircraft ever made. The 737-800 belongs to the aviation giant's next-generation aircraft which also includes 600, 700, and 900.

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Among its notable creations are the twin-engine, wide-body Boeing 777, also known as 'Triple Seven', and the Boeing 787, known as Dreamliner. While the two aircraft may seem similar, airlines often choose between them based on their distinct advantages and disadvantages.

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The Boeing 777-200LR holds the world record for the longest non-stop flight without refueling with a flight distance of 11,664 nautical miles (21,601.7 km). The 777-300ER, which is the most popular variant, has a range of 14,490 kilometers (7,825 nautical miles).

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Single-engine flying on a Boeing 777 First of all, the Boeing 777 is designed and certified to fly with only one engine for up to five and a half hours. This means that the pilot has more than five hours to find the nearest suitable airport to land safely.

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Take a look at the size of the engine and the huge bypass fan. It will by size alone subject to more noise than smaller engines. The procedure used on the B-777 engine start that adds to the noise perception is that we start them both simultaneously.

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