The Federal Aviation Administration will be conducting a safety review of United Airlines following a series of incidents involving Boeing jets. The review will involve a closer look at the airline’s work processes, manuals, and facilities to ensure safety compliance. One of the incidents that prompted this review was a United Boeing 737-800 landing in Medford, Oregon, missing an external panel. Other recent mishaps on United flights included a Boeing plane spewing flames from an engine, sliding off the runway, losing a wheel during takeoff, and trailing hydraulic fluid.
The recent safety-related events at United Airlines have led to a thorough evaluation of their procedures to determine if any changes need to be made to improve safety. The FAA’s safety assurance system monitors all aspects of an airline’s operation to ensure compliance with regulations, identifying hazards, assessing and mitigating risks, and managing safety effectively. Boeing, the manufacturer of most of the jets used by United Airlines, is also under scrutiny following incidents like an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 plane losing a door plug mid-flight, and a LATAM Airlines flight experiencing a sudden plunge mid-air causing passenger injuries.
Investigations into the incidents involving Boeing planes are ongoing, with preliminary reports suggesting that bolts were missing from the Alaska Air jet while Boeing indicated the possibility of a cockpit incident causing the plunge on the LATAM flight. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has expressed interest in potentially purchasing more jets from Airbus, Boeing’s European competitor, amidst the safety concerns surrounding Boeing planes. The incidents have prompted a focus on safety within the aviation industry and a renewed commitment to ensuring the safety of passengers and employees on all flights operated by major airlines.
