WASHINGTON- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is intensifying its monitoring of United Airlines (UA) in response to a series of safety incidents.
On Friday, Sasha Johnson, Vice President of Corporate Safety at United, communicated in an internal memo to employees that the airline can anticipate heightened FAA involvement in its operations. This includes an examination of its procedures, manuals, and operational processes.
FAA Increases United Oversight
Johnson stated in the memo, ‘As expected, our engagement with the FAA has intensified lately, and they share our concerns. They concur that we must thoroughly scrutinize various aspects of our operations to ensure optimal safety compliance.’
Johnson mentioned that the FAA will temporarily suspend several certification procedures for United.
The FAA explained, “Our safety assurance system consistently monitors every facet of an airline’s operations. It prioritizes the airline’s adherence to relevant regulations, ability to recognize and address risks, and proficiency in safety management.”
Series of Incidents
In March, United encountered several safety incidents. One involved the detachment of an external panel from a Boeing 737-800 upon landing in Medford, Oregon.
Another incident occurred when a United Boeing 737-900ER departing from Houston was forced to make an emergency landing due to flames emitted from an engine. Additionally, a separate incident involved a flight from Houston, this time a 737 Max, sliding off the runway.
In another occurrence, a Boeing 777 lost a wheel during takeoff from San Francisco. Certain incidents, such as mechanical issues, are categorized as routine maintenance mishaps.
Further, a United Airlines (UA) flight operated by A320 originating from San Francisco (SFO) was compelled to execute an emergency landing in Los Angeles (LAX) due to complications with the aircraft’s hydraulic system, as per airline authorities.
CEO Assurance
During an interview with NBC News on Tuesday, FAA chief Mike Whitaker mentioned his conversation with United CEO Scott Kirby following the incident in Medford, Oregon.
“We will carefully assess each of these incidents to determine if there are any underlying patterns,” Whitaker informed NBC News’ Lester Holt.
Kirby responded to the series of incidents in a letter addressed to customers on Monday, emphasizing the airline’s commitment to safety. He outlined plans to review the airline’s safety training procedures, including scheduling an additional training day for pilots and implementing a centralized training curriculum for maintenance technicians.
“Regrettably, over the past few weeks, our airline has faced several incidents that underscore the significance of safety,” Kirby conveyed in the message. “Although these events are unrelated, I want to assure you that they have captured our attention and intensified our focus on safety.”
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