A United Airlines flight bound for Newark Airport in New Jersey made an emergency return to London Heathrow Airport shortly after takeoff on Wednesday afternoon.

Flight UA147, a Boeing 767-300 with 70 passengers and 11 crew members aboard, departed Heathrow just before 3:30 PM and had climbed to an altitude of over 18,000 feet.

However, approximately ten minutes into the flight, the aircraft performed a U-turn and returned to West London, landing safely at about 3:40 PM.

Aviation tracking website Flightradar24 reported that the aircraft's transponder transmitted an emergency code at 3:55 PM, indicating a serious issue onboard.

United Airlines later confirmed that the flight had to return due to a 'technical issue,' which was later identified as an engine failure.

Heathrow Airport authorities confirmed that the aircraft landed safely and that all passengers were able to disembark without incident.

In a statement provided to passengers, United Airlines noted, 'United Flight 147 returned to London Heathrow Airport to address a potential mechanical issue.

The flight landed safely and was subsequently cancelled.'

Passengers were rebooked on the next available flight to Newark, which has since departed.

The incident highlights the importance of safety protocols in commercial aviation, as emergency landings are a standard procedure in the event of technical failures.