United Airlines has been facing a series of safety incidents this month, with six reported so far. Two incidents occurred this weekend, resulting in emergency landings and diverted flights. On Saturday, Flight 2137 had to return to Chicago O’Hare International Airport due to a potential oil warning light issue. The Airbus A320 safely landed, and passengers were provided with a new aircraft to continue their journey. On Friday, Flight 821 had to divert to Los Angeles International Airport after the crew reported a hydraulics issue. Again, an Airbus A320 aircraft was involved.
These incidents are part of a string of safety concerns for United Airlines. The recent incidents involving Airbus planes were accompanied by four incidents involving Boeing aircraft. United Airlines stated that they take every safety event seriously and will be investigating each incident in collaboration with manufacturers, the FAA, and the NTSB.
The Airbus A320 has a history of 38 hull loss accidents, where the aircraft is damaged beyond economic repair. These accidents resulted in 1,048 fatalities, with a survival rate of 27%. On the other hand, the Boeing accidents involved various aircraft models. One incident involved Flight 2477 rolling onto the grass after landing at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, while another incident forced Flight 35 to land at Los Angeles International Airport due to a landing gear issue.
These safety issues come at a time when Boeing is already under scrutiny following a serious incident in January involving a Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft. A door plug tore off during the flight, causing rapid cabin depressurization and resulting in injuries to passengers. This incident led to the grounding of 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 planes by the FAA. United Airlines and Alaska Airlines are the two American carriers that use the Boeing 737 Max 9 in service.
In early March, the FAA completed a six-week audit of Boeing and identified non-compliance issues in their manufacturing process control, parts handling and storage, and product control. The FAA has halted production expansion of the Boeing 737 MAX and is considering third-party reviews of quality systems. They will also continue to have an increased presence at Boeing’s facility in Renton, Washington, and Spirit AeroSystems’ facility in Wichita, Kansas.
FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker has requested Boeing to provide a comprehensive action plan within 90 days to address systemic quality-control issues. The safety incidents involving both Airbus and Boeing planes will be thoroughly investigated by the FAA.
United Airlines prioritizes safety and is committed to working with manufacturers and regulatory bodies to ensure the safety of their customers and employees. These incidents serve as reminders of the importance of continuous monitoring and improvement in the aviation industry to maintain the highest standards of safety.
