SAN FRANCISCO- As per officials, a United Airlines (UA) flight departing from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on Friday morning arrived in Oregon with an external panel missing, according to FlightAware.
United Flight 433 departed San Francisco at 10:20 a.m. and touched down at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport (MFR) in Medford. Amber Judd, the airport’s director, stated that the aircraft landed safely without any issues, and the missing external panel was detected during a post-flight inspection.
United 737 Loses Panel
According to Judd, the airport halted operations to inspect the runway and airfield for debris, finding none. She mentioned that United’s ground crew or pilots likely noticed the missing panel during a routine pre-flight check.
The Boeing 737, carrying 139 passengers and six crew members, will undergo thorough examination, repairs, and investigation by United Airlines to determine the cause of the damage. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to investigate the incident.
The absent panel, located beneath the aircraft where the wing meets the body and adjacent to the landing gear, was reported by United. The 737-824 aircraft entered service in April 1998 and has been operated by United since November 30, 2011.
Boeing deferred comment to United regarding the carrier’s fleet and operations.
Similar Incidents
In a related incident, a United flight bound for Mexico City from San Francisco made an emergency landing in Los Angeles due to a hydraulic system failure.
Recent incidents, including the loss of a tire from a Boeing 777 during takeoff of United Flight 35 from SFO, have raised concerns
In January, a panel covering an additional emergency door space detached from a Max 9 jet midair shortly after an Alaska Airlines (AS) flight departed from Portland. This caused a significant opening, leading pilots to execute an emergency landing. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported.
Analyst Remarks
Aviation analyst John Nance commented on the incident, expressing concern over the rare occurrence of objects falling off jetliners. He raised questions about potential human error, fatigue, or maintenance issues. Nance also discussed the longevity of aircraft service, highlighting examples of older planes still operating.
Regarding the safety of United Flight 433’s 139 passengers and six crew members, Nance reassured that while there might have been risks of falling debris, the passengers were likely not in direct danger.
Despite recent mishaps with United flights, Nance emphasized that flying remains statistically safer than driving to the airport, and passengers should not be overly concerned.
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