Question about strange United departure today 5 April

[AdamB]

I was at the beach this morning & saw what was to me an odd event. A United Airways 744 (flight number UA839, reg N107UA) taxied parrallel to 34L tailed closely by a fire truck & a ladder truck. It sat at the end of the taxiway for at least ten minutes, then rolled onto the runway & very slowly made its way to the taxiway for 16L/34R where it stopped. My scanner was a bit scratchy but I did pick up the tower saying "it's up to you if you want to proceed or return to the apron". It sat on the taxiway for half an hour then taxied down to 34L for the shortest & fastest rotation I've ever seen out of a 747. Flightstats shows this flight as 34 minutes late into Melbourne. Anyone know what was the cause of the delay or can enlighten me as to what I was watching unfold?

[Sarah C]

I was thinking the same thing. I was on VH-ZXE this morning as we taxiied past it. It looked really odd and I assumed it has going down to Melbourne and had a problem. It was quite a sight I must say!

[Michael Atkin]

I was at the Mound that morning and also saw it, dont know what the cause was but he was quite eager to get away once the problem was sorted, the pilot came on radio and told the tower that they can't wait any longer because if they do they "will need to go back for gas" and the rotation and climbout was spectacular.

_______________

Next Flights:
QFA544 SYD-BNE 20th April
DJ978 BNE-SYD 26th April

[Sarah C]

Here is a picture of it........