- Alaska Airlines flight A-S one eighty-one declared a mid-air emergency while flying over the United Kingdom.
- The Boeing seven eighty-seven nine dumped fuel over water following reports of mechanical issues and engine vibration.
- The aircraft returned safely to Rome five hours and thirty minutes after departure for maintenance inspections.
Alaska Airlines Flight AS181 declared an emergency Sunday after its Boeing 787-9 turned back over the United Kingdom and broadcast squawk 7700 off the coast of France.
The flight had left Rome Fiumicino Airport at 15:45 CEST on July 19, 2026, bound for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. It later returned to Rome after the crew reported a mechanical issue and engine vibration.
The aircraft descended from 34,000 feet to 25,000 feet during the incident. It also dumped fuel over the Atlantic or Bay of Biscay before landing.
Free toolB1/B2 Tourist Visa Stay Calculator onlinePassengers saw fuel streaming from the wings. The crew described the situation as controlled.
"You may have noticed we turned around, we are having a mechanical issue and are heading back to Rome. We expect to have a safe landing back in Rome. If you look out your windows and see stuff coming out of the wings, it's just fuel and nothing is wrong. we have to dump the fuel over water, we cannot dump it over land."
The announcement came from the flight crew, according to passenger reports.
Flight tracking data placed the aircraft at 34,000 feet over central France at about 17:15 CEST. At roughly 17:45 CEST, it made a sharp U-turn over southeastern Britain and began descending.
The emergency transmission followed at approximately 18:15 CEST, while the aircraft operated near western France. At 19:40 CEST, the diversion back to Rome was confirmed as an engine-vibration issue.
The aircraft landed safely on runway 16R at FCO at 21:15 CEST. Its total time in the air reached 5 hours and 30 minutes.
The crew dumped fuel before returning to Rome
The fuel release reduced the aircraft’s weight before landing. The Dreamliner’s maximum landing weight is lower than its maximum takeoff weight, making a fuel dump useful after a relatively short flight with substantial fuel remaining.
The maneuver took place over water. That was the procedure the crew explained to passengers.
The aircraft involved was registered N780HA. It was delivered in April 2024 and had previously operated with Hawaiian Airlines before joining the Alaska fleet.
The flight used the callsign ASA181. Its scheduled route ran from Rome Fiumicino, also identified as FCO, to Seattle-Tacoma, or SEA.
French aviation authorities monitored the aircraft’s path. The Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile, known as the DGAC, tracked the event along with Britain’s NATS air traffic service.
Passengers waited for a replacement departure
Hundreds of passengers returned to Rome after the diversion. Reports from the cabin described a calm but concerned atmosphere during the fuel-dumping maneuver.
The aircraft parked on a remote stand. Maintenance teams then began inspecting it.
The airline scheduled a replacement departure from FCO for 23:00 CEST. Passengers remained in Rome for several hours while the aircraft underwent checks.
The affected aircraft remained grounded in Rome for a detailed inspection of its GEnx engines. The inspection was intended to identify the cause of the reported vibration.
The incident followed another Alaska diversion earlier in July. Flight AS395 diverted to Denver on July 11, 2026, after system alerts, according to the incident’s recent developments.
N780HA is part of Alaska’s new long-haul fleet
The aircraft was among the first 787-9 jets integrated after Alaska’s merger with Hawaiian Airlines in late 2024. The carrier began its first transatlantic service with the wide-body aircraft in spring 2026.
The Rome-Seattle flight formed part of that expanded international operation. Its return interrupted a route linking Italy with the Pacific Northwest.
Alaska Air Group CEO Ben Minicucci discussed the carrier’s 787 strategy on January 7, 2026. He said the expansion would maintain the company’s focus on safety while broadening its international network.
"With these bold moves, we are accelerating our vision to connect our guests to the world. We are seizing this moment to redefine the international experience and level up. And we're doing it with the same relentless focus on safety, care and performance that's always defined us."
The replacement departure was set for 23:00 CEST on July 19. The aircraft’s inspection in Rome was the next operational step after the emergency landing.
