Topic overview
In brief
- A United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Los Cabos returned to the airport after a tire was damaged during takeoff.
- The flight departed at 9:21 a.m. and landed back at SFO at 11:44 a.m. with no injuries reported.
- Passengers were later bused to the terminal and provided with another aircraft for their journey.
Summary
On Thursday, August 6, 2026, a United Airlines flight traveling from San Francisco, California, to Los Cabos, Mexico, encountered a significant issue shortly after takeoff. The flight, designated as United flight 1189, departed from San Francisco International Airport at 9:21 a.m. and was approximately one hour into its journey when the crew decided to return to the airport due to damage sustained to one of the plane's tires. The decision to turn back was made in the interest of safety, as the airline reported that the tire was damaged during the initial takeoff phase.
Upon returning, the aircraft landed safely at San Francisco International Airport at 11:44 a.m. FlightAware data confirmed the timeline of events, indicating that the flight was well underway before the crew opted to return. After landing, personnel were seen inspecting the tire components of the nose gear, which was the area affected by the damage. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries among the 165 passengers and eight crew members aboard the flight, which is a relief given the potential risks associated with tire damage during flight.