Narrative:

At our cruise altitude FL380; we were cleared direct to zun; a point on our arrival. As we passed abeam XXX; we completed and sent a position report. Several mins later; the first officer and I both observed the left (#1) engine failure. The engine shut down with no abnormal sounds. We ran the QRH engine failure checklist. I declared an emergency; and coordination with ATC for a descent out of FL380. We evaluated our available options and decided to land at ZZZ which was the nearest suitable airport. ATC assisted in our direct routing to ZZZ. In accordance with the abnormal checklist for engine failure; the first officer attempted to start the APU. The APU did not start and the 'APU fault' light illuminated. We ran the 'APU fault' QRH checklist; and the APU started on the second attempt. With no abnormal indications on the shutdown engine; various degrees of WX at all nearby airports; and the APU fault condition; we elected to perform the engine in-flight start checklist. After 30 seconds; the restart was unsuccessful (0 fuel flow). We notified the dispatcher via ACARS; spoke via intercom to the flight attendants; and over the PA to the passenger. Overweight landing considerations were discussed. It appeared we would be about 1000 pounds over maximum landing weight at touchdown. A single engine ILS approach and landing was conducted to runway 6 and was uneventful. Coordination with tower and fire/emergency response personnel was apparent. We taxied under our own power and were parked near the gate.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 LEFT ENG FAILED DURING CRUISE. EMER WAS DECLARED AND FLT DIVERTED TO NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT.

Narrative: AT OUR CRUISE ALT FL380; WE WERE CLRED DIRECT TO ZUN; A POINT ON OUR ARR. AS WE PASSED ABEAM XXX; WE COMPLETED AND SENT A POS RPT. SEVERAL MINS LATER; THE FO AND I BOTH OBSERVED THE L (#1) ENG FAILURE. THE ENG SHUT DOWN WITH NO ABNORMAL SOUNDS. WE RAN THE QRH ENG FAILURE CHKLIST. I DECLARED AN EMER; AND COORD WITH ATC FOR A DSCNT OUT OF FL380. WE EVALUATED OUR AVAILABLE OPTIONS AND DECIDED TO LAND AT ZZZ WHICH WAS THE NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT. ATC ASSISTED IN OUR DIRECT ROUTING TO ZZZ. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ABNORMAL CHKLIST FOR ENG FAILURE; THE FO ATTEMPTED TO START THE APU. THE APU DID NOT START AND THE 'APU FAULT' LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WE RAN THE 'APU FAULT' QRH CHKLIST; AND THE APU STARTED ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT. WITH NO ABNORMAL INDICATIONS ON THE SHUTDOWN ENG; VARIOUS DEGREES OF WX AT ALL NEARBY ARPTS; AND THE APU FAULT CONDITION; WE ELECTED TO PERFORM THE ENG INFLT START CHKLIST. AFTER 30 SECONDS; THE RESTART WAS UNSUCCESSFUL (0 FUEL FLOW). WE NOTIFIED THE DISPATCHER VIA ACARS; SPOKE VIA INTERCOM TO THE FLT ATTENDANTS; AND OVER THE PA TO THE PAX. OVERWT LNDG CONSIDERATIONS WERE DISCUSSED. IT APPEARED WE WOULD BE ABOUT 1000 LBS OVER MAX LNDG WT AT TOUCHDOWN. A SINGLE ENG ILS APCH AND LNDG WAS CONDUCTED TO RWY 6 AND WAS UNEVENTFUL. COORD WITH TWR AND FIRE/EMER RESPONSE PERSONNEL WAS APPARENT. WE TAXIED UNDER OUR OWN PWR AND WERE PARKED NEAR THE GATE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.