United Airlines UA957 squawks 7700 and returns to Geneva after reaching 24,000 ft

United Airlines flight UA957 (callsign UAL957), a Boeing 767-300 registered N686UA, departed Geneva Cointrin International Airport (LSGG) on August 20, 2026, on a route that was to take it away from Geneva but ended with a return to the same airport. The aircraft lifted off at 9:16 a.m. local time (07:16 UTC) and climbed westward on a heading of roughly 288 degrees before curving north and then northeast, passing near Dijon-Bourgogne Airport and Dole-Tavaux Airport as it gained altitude.

ADS-B data reviewed by SkyMeter shows the aircraft reached a peak altitude of 24,278 feet approximately 11 minutes into the recorded track, at which point it was heading northeast near 323 degrees. At 9:43 a.m. local time (07:43 UTC), while still near cruise altitude, the aircraft broadcast a 7700 emergency squawk. The track then shows an immediate turn to the southeast and a sustained descent back toward Geneva, with the aircraft passing through 22,717 feet in a prolonged level segment before resuming its descent near Payerne Air Base on a southerly heading of roughly 202 degrees.

The descent continued at rates reaching approximately 3,000 feet per minute at times, transitioning through a stabilized approach before touchdown at Geneva. The aircraft completed its rollout at 10:12 a.m. local time, about 41 minutes after the first recorded fix. The full flight track, including the emergency squawk event and the return approach, can be replayed on SkyMeter.