United Airlines Under the Microscope: FAA Ramps Up Investigation into Safety Concerns

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is conducting a detailed investigation into the safety of United Airlines.

United Airlines announced on the 23rd that it will undergo an enhanced detailed investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) following recent accidents.

In a memo, Sasha Johnson, United Airlines’ Vice President of Aviation Safety, said, “In the coming weeks, the FAA will begin to review the work processes, manuals, and facilities.”

The airline has experienced several emergencies over the past two weeks, with an FAA investigation starting after it was revealed that an external panel was missing when a plane landed in Oregon on March 15.

Before that incident, a Boeing 737 MAX operated by United Airlines rolled off the grass in Houston, and a United Airlines-operated Boeing 777-200 heading for Japan from San Francisco lost a tire and safely landed after diverting to Los Angeles.

Johnson said, “Due to these incidents, we have rightfully stopped to assess what we can and should do differently. We welcome the participation of the FAA and are ready to listen to advice for safety.”

In response, FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker said, “United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby knows that we will cooperate more closely with them as we investigate this more thoroughly.”

He stated, “We regularly monitor all aspects of airline operations, including compliance with regulations, risk identification, capabilities of assessing and mitigating risk, and effective safety management.”

The FAA has conducted a detailed investigation into airplane manufacturer Boeing since a mid-air emergency with Alaska Airlines on January 5, with ongoing investigations into safety and quality standards in the production process.