Our reporting has been updated to include late developments regarding the aircraft’s status. This report was originally published on Friday, April 24, 2026.
One of United Airlines’ newest Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners had to turn around after departing Singapore on Friday, after the crew detected an electrical smell onboard. This was the aircraft’s second long-haul flight since it was introduced on the route, with its latest elevated onboard interior, on April 22.
The aircraft, delivered to United in February, had previously operated transcontinental services, and its trip to Singapore was its first international journey with paying passengers. The plane remains on the apron in Singapore, according to Flightradar24.
Bad Luck: Diverted To Singapore On Its First International Trip
The flight, operating as UA2, had departed from Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) on Friday, April 24, destined for 
San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The plane had departed from the city state at 9:33 am local time, around 33 minutes behind its scheduled departure of 9:00 am. The flight took off in a northerly direction before passing over the southern tip of Malaysia.
Looking at the flight data, the 787 reached an altitude of around 30,000 feet and was approximately 30 minutes into the trans-Pacific flight to San Francisco when the crew, out of an abundance of caution, decided to return to Singapore after an electrical smell was detected on onboard. This resulted in the plane being placed into a brief holding pattern before eventually landing approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes after departure.
The airline has confirmed to The Aviation Herald that the flight experienced a maintenance issue, and as a result, the plane returned to Singapore. It remains on the apron while the maintenance crew works on the issue.
Returning To Singapore After An Electrical Smell
Both passengers and crew reported an electrical odor emanating from the air vents, prompting the captain to return to Singapore. Initially, it was planned that the plane could be inspected quickly and therefore, operate part of the flight without the crew timing out. The Aviation Herald suggests that the flight was considered to operate with an immediate stop in Honolulu, but this never came to fruition, and the flight was ultimately canceled, stranding passengers in Singapore.
The plane, which bears registration N61101, is one of the latest 787-9s delivered to the 
Star Alliance carrier, which features its latest onboard interior. The plane, which was delivered to United on February 27 this year, is just a couple of months old, according to ch-aviation.
Registration | N61101 |
|---|---|
Serial Number (MSN) | 68647 |
Aircraft Age | 2 months old |
Configuration |
|
Engines | GEnx |
Hex Code | A7F4E7 |
Type | Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner |
The aircraft was ferried safely back to San Francisco on Saturday. FlightAware data shows the plane, operating as UA3968, departed from SIN at 10:49 am and arrived at SFO at 11:23 am. It remains on the ground, with no future flights scheduled. It is unclear when the aircraft will return to service.
While Singapore was the first international route to debut the new aircraft interior, it is also set to be launched on services to London. The airline expects 30 additional aircraft with the same interior to join the fleet by 2027.
United Airlines To Debut New Polaris Suites Without Full Passenger Privacy
United’s new Polaris suites debut on 787-9s with locked doors due to certification delays, echoing a similar issue faced by American Airlines.
Improved Swanky Onboard United Interior
This aircraft boasts a freshly delivered onboard interior, including Polaris Studio suites that are more than 25% larger than the standard Polaris product. These suites include privacy doors, an ottoman for companions, and luxury skincare amenities. The 27-inch seatback entertainment screen allows passengers to sit back and relax while enjoying an exclusive caviar-and-wine pairing at 30,000 feet.
United welcomes the first of 30 new aircraft that will feature this nose-to-tail transformation and boast the highest number of premium seats in the airline’s fleet. The aircraft’s delivery was scheduled for the end of 2025, but it was officially delivered in February. Further down the cabin, the United Premium Plus cabin has been updated with privacy dividers and wireless charging, while those in economy will enjoy the largest economy seatback screens currently available.
For United, the aircraft’s first trip to Singapore has had an unfortunate hiccup, and at the time of writing, the plane remains on the apron in Singapore, awaiting clearance to return to SFO.
