A United Jet's Gear Would Not Come Down Over Houston: Flight 1854's Double Emergency Ended With a Safe Landing at IAH

United Airlines Flight 1854's Sunday flight from Grand Cayman to Houston became a double emergency on approach to George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Aviation A2Z reported Wednesday. As the Boeing 737 MAX 9 began its descent on October 25, the crew found the right main landing gear would not extend as expected, informed air traffic control and declared an emergency. A low pass over the airport was arranged so observers could check the gear visually, and according to Simple Flying's account, carried in the report, a passing aircraft also helped confirm the right main gear remained retracted.

The gear problem became more urgent when the pilots reported the aircraft had approximately 10 to 12 minutes of fuel remaining - a figure the reporting itself flags as the crew's estimate during the emergency, not an independently verified quantity. The crew asked for fire trucks and emergency services to be positioned for the arrival and kept working the problem with controllers.

In the final holding pattern, the right main landing gear reportedly extended. United confirmed the flight carried 83 passengers and six crew, that the aircraft declared an emergency because of a mechanical indication, and that it landed safely, taxied normally and let passengers leave at the gate. Tracking records put touchdown at about 8:12 p.m. and arrival at the gate at 8:24 p.m. on October 25. Emergency services met the aircraft; there was no evacuation and no injuries were reported.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating. No cause for the gear problem has been established, and the available reporting does not attribute it to any specific component or failure - that determination now sits with the FAA's review.