The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has signaled it will increase oversight of United Airlines following a spike in safety incidents in recent weeks.
鈥淒ue to recent safety events, the FAA is increasing oversight of United Airlines to ensure that it is complying with safety regulations; identifying hazards and mitigating risk; and effectively managing safety,鈥 a spokesperson for the FAA said.
The FAA also announced that certification processes may also be delayed based on results from the increase in oversight.
鈥淐ertification activities in process may be allowed to continue, but future projects may be delayed based on findings from oversight,鈥 the FAA said.
While the FAA did not specify what processes may be delayed it has been reported that United could be prevented from adding new routes.
In a message to United Airlines staff on March 22, 2024, vice president of corporate safety at the airline, Sasha Johnson, advised employees of the FAA精东影业 decision.
鈥淲e will begin to see more of an FAA presence in our operation as they begin to review some of our work processes, manuals and facilities. We welcome their engagement and are very open to hear from them about what they find and their perspective on things we may need to change to make us even safer,” Johnson said according to the . 听
The FAA said that it 鈥渞outinely鈥 monitored airlines鈥 operations in the interest of safety.
In a听message to United Airlines customers on March 18, 2024, CEO Scott Kirby said that the incidents 鈥渉ave our attention and have sharpened our focus鈥.听 听
JUST IN: In a new letter to United customers, CEO Scott Kirby says March incidents "have our attention and have sharpened our focus."
— Pete Muntean (@petemuntean)
Now the airline is adding an extra day of pilot training and retooling training for new mechanics.
Among the most high-profile safety incidents in recent weeks was a听Boeing 777-200 that lost a tire shortly听after takeoff from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on March 7, 2024, and a听Boeing 737 MAX 8 that veered off the runway听at Houston-George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) on March 8, 2024.听 听
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) also published a preliminary听report into an incident involving 鈥渟tuck鈥 rudders on a United Boeing 737 MAX 8.听 听听
The 737-8 landed at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on February 6, 2024, when the captain reported that during the landing rollout, the rudder pedals failed to move in response to the 鈥渘ormal鈥 application.
鈥淯nfortunately, in the past few weeks, our airline has experienced a number of incidents that are reminders of the importance of safety. While they are all unrelated, I want you to know that these incidents have our attention and have sharpened our focus,鈥 Kirby wrote in the message to customers.听听听
Other United Airlines incidents in 2024:
- United Airlines Boeing听737-800 lands in Oregon with missing fuselage panel听
- United Airlines听B777-300 bound for SFO returns to Sydney听after mechanical issues听
- United Airlines听pilot diverts Boeing 737 as flames burst from engine听
- United A321neo听fleet grounded due to issue over passenger 鈥楴o Smoking鈥 signs听
- United Airlines B737-800 flight diverted after crack in windshield found
