SAN FRANCISCO- Over the weekend, a United Airlines (UA) flight destined for Denver (DEN) was compelled to return to the gate at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) due to a bird strike that caused damage to the pilot’s side window shortly after takeoff, as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The aircraft involved in the incident, a Boeing 737-9 MAX, had reached an altitude of approximately 5,000 feet after departing at 5:04 a.m. on Saturday. It subsequently made a safe landing approximately 25 minutes after departure.
United 737 Bird Strike
A spokesperson for United Airlines confirmed the incident on Tuesday, further stating that passengers aboard flight UA1003 were transferred to a replacement Boeing 737-9 MAX shortly after the occurrence and ultimately arrived in Denver (DEN) with a delay of approximately 3½ hours.
Flight records indicate that the damaged aircraft was back in operation by Sunday, undertaking the same rotation.
Aviation experts assert that while bird strikes are relatively common, they are seldom perilous. In 2023, over 2,300 incidents were reported, mostly occurring during takeoff and landing.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) adheres to an FAA-approved Wildlife Hazard Management Plan aimed at mitigating wildlife-related risks, including strategies to trap and relocate specific bird species.
SFO typically records an average of 18 strikes for every 100,000 aircraft operations.
Similar Incident
Coinciding with the United incident, a Southwest Airlines (WN) flight departing from San Diego (SAN) to Oakland (OAK) also encountered a bird strike during takeoff, prompting its return to the gate.
Passengers aboard flight 2922 were subsequently transferred to another aircraft, resulting in a 1½ hour delay before the plane landed in Oakland.
Recent occurrences, such as a blown-out door incident on a Boeing 737 Max during an Alaska Airlines flight and a series of mishaps involving United Airlines aircraft, including wheel loss during takeoff from San Francisco International Airport, have sparked concern among travelers.
In response to these safety incidents, the FAA has heightened its scrutiny of both companies.
“Due to recent safety events, the FAA is intensifying its oversight of United Airlines to ensure compliance with safety regulations, hazard identification, risk mitigation, and effective safety management,” the agency stated in a release.
Boeing’s CEO, Dave Calhoun, announced on Monday that he will resign by the end of the year.
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