WASHINGTON— An American Airlines (AA) flight from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) declared an emergency due to a hydraulic system issue on July 25, 2025.
The Boeing 737-800 (registered as N815NN), operating as flight AA311, diverted safely to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
The aircraft was on approach to Reagan National (DCA) when the crew aborted the landing, reported the system malfunction, and coordinated an emergency landing at Dulles (IAD).
Photo: FlightRadar24American Airlines 737 Diverts Twice
According to FlightRadar24 data, American Airlines flight AA311 took off from Chicago O’Hare (ORD) at 19:22 UTC. After being airborne for over two hours the flight diverted to Charlotte due to weather related issues.
The aircraft took off again at 23:15 UTC from Charlotte but again faced a issue. Flight AA311 was nearing its destination at Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) when the pilots received a system alert.
Initially describing it as a “system issue” to air traffic control (ATC), the crew later confirmed a hydraulic failure and declared an emergency. The crew requested vectors to Washington Dulles (IAD), where longer runways and emergency facilities could better support the situation.
ATC maintained close coordination, providing multiple altitude and heading adjustments while the flight crew ran checklists. During the emergency call, the pilots reported 154 people on board and 1 hour 34 minutes of fuel remaining.
The crew requested Runway 19L at Dulles and asked for a long final approach to allow additional time to configure the aircraft. They also requested emergency equipment on standby and noted that they would need to stop on the runway for post-landing procedures.
American 311 was cleared for the ILS approach to Runway 19L and landed without incident. The aircraft remained stationary on the runway for approximately 24 minutes. Maintenance personnel were required to install gear pins before the aircraft could be towed.
Photo: Aero Icarus | FlickrAA Pilot and ATC Comms
Here’s the Full converstion details between American Airlines flight AA311 pilot and ATC as flagged by You can see ATC:
{ts:10}
ATC: America 31 to maintain 30,000 right turn heading
{ts:24}
ATC: 0 4 Z 4 Z American 31 31 4 miles clear right turn
{ts:37}
ATC: 2700 clear one Eric, turn direct Derek uh at about 22 approach. Actually, yeah, sir. We need time. We’re
Pilot: We just have a system issue. 31.
ATC: Roger. Approach clearance. Maintain 3,000. You do want some vectors?
Pilot: Affirmative. 31.
ATC: Roger. Just 0 for now. 0 918. Any assistance?
Pilot: Uh not right now. We’re running a checklist. 31 turn left heading 320.
ATC: 320 American 31.
{ts:84}
ATC: 31 just for my planning purposes, did you uh know about how long this is going to be for you?
Pilot: Probably another five, ten minutes or so.
ATC: 31, roger. I may have to climb you for uh some other traffic coming international just to give you a heads up.
Pilot: That’s fine.
{ts:103}
ATC: 31 left turn heading 320.
Pilot: 320 on the heading. Left turn 320.
{ts:114}
ATC: 31 just immediate right. Immediate left turn heading 090 now headed for the P.
Pilot: All right. 090 American 31.
ATC: Continue left turn heading 320. Now you can do normal rate of turn.
Pilot: Okay, left 320. American 31.
{ts:138}
ATC: Maintain 500.
Pilot: American 311 and uh approach American 311.
ATC: 31, go ahead.
Pilot: Yeah, we’re having a uh we had a hydraulic issue. We’re going to have to declare an emergency. Requesting to land at Dulles. We’ll still need a few minutes to finish up the checklist item.
ATC: 31, roger.
{ts:165}
ATC: Radar to airport, 5,000 now. When you get a chance, fuel and souls on board?
Pilot: Present position climb to 5,000. Uh, fuel we have 1 hour 34 minutes, and we have 154 souls on board.
{ts:185}
ATC: American 31 November.
Pilot: American 311 working on November.
{ts:203}
ATC: 11 turn 15 degrees to the left and contact approach 125.80.
Pilot: Yeah, 125.8 Z and 15 left. American 311.
{ts:215}
ATC: Thank you. One more time for me. Are you still running to your checklist or are you ready to go in now?
Pilot: Still running checklist and coordinating with the company. Stay with you or can we switch?
ATC: American 31, roger. Still, contact approach on 125.8. They know what’s going on.
{ts:234}
Pilot: And we’ll come 15° left. American 31, emergency.
{ts:246}
Pilot: Approach, American 31, emergency 5,000 heading 305.
ATC: American 311, welcome. Which runway would you like?
Pilot: Uh, we’d like to probably put to one N left on request.
ATC: One nine left it is. And are you ready to go inbound or do you need time?
Pilot: Uh, we’re going to need some time. American 311.
ATC: 311, roger. No problem for now. Heading 350.
Pilot: 3 5 0, American 31.
{ts:274}
Pilot: For weather, can 31. We have about a 355 heading.
ATC: American 311, 355 approved.
{ts:283}
ATC: American 311, turn left heading 24 Z.
{ts:295}
ATC: American 311, if you’re ready to go in, I have a spot for you, just let me know.
Pilot: We’re not ready. American 31.
ATC: No problem. We’re just going to do circles there until you are.
{ts:305}
ATC: 311, left heading 190.
Pilot: Let’s take a left heading 100.
ATC: Okay, left 100. American 311.
{ts:318}
Pilot: Approach, American 311.
ATC: Yes, sir.
Pilot: Yeah, so we’re ready for the approach. Requesting a 20 to 25 mile final. We need extra time to configure the airplane for landing and if you could pass it along. Uh, we are requesting emergency equipment to meet us on the runway. We’re going to have to stop on the runway and we’re going to require maintenance to install gear pins on our landing gear before we could be towed in. So, that’s kind of where we’re at.
ATC: American 311, no problem at all. I’ll do the best I can with the weather. Turn left heading 310.
Pilot: Left 310, American 311.
{ts:348}
ATC: American 31. Maintain 4,000. Left heading 290.
Pilot: Descend 4,000 heading 290, American 31.
ATC: America 31, turn left, heading 280.
Pilot: Heading 280.
{ts:369}
ATC: America 31. I think that’s going to put us pretty close to the weather, but in a good spot to join the final. It’s about an 18 mile interceptor.
Pilot: So that’ll work. Uh, we can make that work.
ATC: No problem. Speed your discretion. We’re going to land on the ILS unless you like something different.
{ts:384}
Pilot: Like the ILS one left, 31.
ATC: Maintain 3000.
Pilot: 3000, American 311.
{ts:399}
ATC: American 311, just want to give you a heads up what’s going on. There’s also another emergency. It’s the heavy 787. They’re landing 19 center. They’ll be right behind you and they have an engine out. So the services may be delayed. I don’t know how many they have to be honest with you.
Pilot: Understood, sir. Thank you for the heads up.
ATC: Yes, sir.
{ts:421}
ATC: 31 6 miles from lefty, left heading 220, 3000 till established, clear runway 19 left approach.
Pilot: Left heading 220, 3000 till established, cleared for the ILS 19 left approach, American 311.
ATC: Tower 12.1 and have a good day.
Pilot: Tower, American 311, thanks for the help.
{ts:444}
Pilot: Tower, good evening. American 311, left one nine left.
ATC: American 311, tower, wind one nine zero at three. Runway one nine left, cleared to land.
Pilot: One nine left, cleared to land, American 311.
{ts:462}
ATC: You can exit if able. If not, then you come to a stop on the runway. The alert frequency to switch over to will be 121.9 for the emergency vehicles.
Pilot: 0.9 for the vehicle. Then we will see something.
Photo: Aero Icarus | FlickrSimultaneous Emergency at Dulles
Shortly before AA311’s arrival, another emergency occurred involving a United Airlines (UA) Boeing 787-8 departing from Dulles. That aircraft experienced an engine failure and returned to land on Runway 19C. ATC informed the American crew that emergency services may be delayed due to dual concurrent events.
Despite this, emergency response teams managed both situations effectively. No injuries were reported, and operations resumed after both aircraft were secured.
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