United flight to Amsterdam lands in Canada after emergency signal

A United Airlines flight from Washington to Amsterdam diverted to St. John's, Canada, after transmitting an emergency code over the Atlantic on Oct. 12. Local broadcaster VOCM subsequently reported its landing.

According to Flightradar24, cited by RIA Novosti, the aircraft departed Washington on Sunday evening and later changed course toward St. John's International Airport. The early report described the flight as still heading toward Canada, while VOCM's later account said it had arrived.

The crew selected transponder code 7700, which indicates a general emergency. The code alerts air traffic control to a problem requiring assistance but does not, by itself, establish the cause or indicate that a crash is imminent.

VOCM reported possible engine trouble, but that explanation was not confirmed by United Airlines in the sources checked. Details of the passengers' onward journey and any technical inspection were also not available.