This 4 November 2012 archive photo shows a 787 Dreamliner from United Airlines at the O. Hare International Airport in Chicago.(Photo: Nam Y. Huh, AP)

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) – A United Airlines flight from Los Angeles landed safely in Sydney Thursday after the pilot warned that the plane was almost full of gas, officials said.

The US airline said in a statement that Flight 839 had landed safely at the Sydney International Airport "as a result of a mechanical incident."

"The aircraft landed at the door and all customers landed normally," the statement said.

The Sydney emergency services sent a radio message to this airliner, which, according to United, was a Boeing 787 containing 180 passengers and 14 crew members, "has fuel problems and has issued a Mayday ".

Australian Aviation Authority spokesman Peter Gibson said the plane had priority over the landing but that it was not in danger.

"There is an international standard that states that once you have reached your fuel reserve in a flight, you must declare what is called an" extraordinary fuel, "Gibson said.

"What this says to air traffic control and aircraft in the region is that you have to get in first, but that does not mean you run out of gas, you still have a lot fuel, but it's a precaution to say, "I'm on my reserve and I have to get in as fast as I can," added Gibson.

Gibson said headwinds stronger than expected for the 12,000 km (7,500 km) flight across the Pacific could burn more fuel than expected.

Police said that a full emergency response had been triggered at the airport "after a pilot reported a problem.

Some major roads surrounding the airport have been closed as a precaution, according to a police statement.

The Nine Network television channel reported that one of its reporters, Liz Hayes, was on board the plane and was unaware that there had been a problem.

PHOTO ARCHIVE: Boeing 787 flies for United Airlines

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