A United Airlines flight departing for Indianapolis terminated the departure procedure and returned to Chicago O’Hare after flight crew reported an electrical burning odour in the cockpit on 24 August 2025.
United Airlines flight UA1250, operated by an Airbus A319-100, had conducted a departure from runway to 02L Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
The aircraft was performing a scheduled service bound for Indianapolis International Airport (IND).
United Airlines UA1250 Chicago-Indianapolis
Shortly after takeoff, flight crew reported detecting an electrical burning odour in the cockpit. As a result, the departure procedure was terminated and a direct return to Chicago O’Hare was conducted.
The flight was then positioned for a return landing on runway 28C. Following the landing, flight crew vacated the active runway and brought the aircraft to a stop on a parallel taxiway.
An external inspection of the aircraft was then carried out by emergency ground services assets. Following the inspection the aircraft was then taxied to the apron hardstanding area.
According to The Aviation Herald, flight crew believed that the burning odour may have emanated from one of the aircraft’s TFT displays.
Flight & Aircraft Data
Flight data shows that flight UA1250 had made a departure from Chicago O’Hare International Airport at 11:36 AM local time on 24 August.
Following the takeoff from runway 02L, the climb procedure was terminated at 8000 feet. Following this, a direct return was carried out.
The aircraft conducting the UA1250 service to Indianapolis International Airport was an Airbus A319-100, registered N849UA.
This is a 23.6 year old narrow body aircraft belonging to the carrier United Airlines. It has been operational service with the airline since its initial delivery from the factory in February 2002.
The TFT (Thin Film Transistor) display on an Airbus A319 aircraft refers to the advanced liquid crystal display (LCD) screens used in the cockpit’s Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS).
These displays are part of the aircraft’s glass cockpit. This includes the Primary Flight Display (PFD) and Navigation Display (ND), among others, providing pilots with critical flight and system information.