{"id":93759,"date":"2025-05-06T21:20:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-06T15:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=93759"},"modified":"2025-05-06T20:13:37","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T14:43:37","slug":"former-united-pilot-loses-lawsuit-over-hard-landing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/06\/former-united-pilot-loses-lawsuit-over-hard-landing\/","title":{"rendered":"Former United Pilot Loses Lawsuit Over $1M Damage from 767 Hard Landing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

CHICAGO-<\/strong> A federal judge dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by former United Airlines (UA)<\/a> pilot Romullo Silva against the airline, following a hard landing incident at Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH)<\/a> that caused millions in damage to a Boeing 767. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ruling ends a contentious legal battle over United\u2019s alleged false statements to the FAA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Silva, terminated after the July 2023 incident, claimed United\u2019s report labeling him as Pilot in Command (PIC) ruined his career prospects, but the court found insufficient evidence to support his claims. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Former
Photo: NTSB<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Former United Pilot Loses Lawsuit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The incident occurred on July 29, 2023, when the United Airlines (UA) Boeing 767<\/a> carrying 193 passengers bounced three times during landing, with gravitational forces of 1.4g, 1.6g, and again 1.6g registered through the nose gear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The repeated hard impacts caused visible rippling and crumpling to the left side of the fuselage. According to PYOK<\/a>, United grounded the aircraft immediately, with repairs extending over seven months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Silva, employed as a First Officer for just seven months, acknowledged he was flying the aircraft but argued the Captain failed to arm the speed brake, a critical error, he claimed, that contributed to the rough touchdown. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

United pulled Silva from duty, and after he failed a simulator check ride, terminated his employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Silva\u2019s lawsuit, filed in December 2024, alleged that United\u2019s internal report to the FAA, falsely naming him as PIC, sabotaged his ability to secure future employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The court found no evidence that the FAA shared this information with other carriers or that the report itself barred him from employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"United
Photo: By Emirates EK27 from Glasgow , Scotland – DSC_0880, CC BY-SA 2.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=32270889<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Court Ruling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

US District Judge William J. Martini dismissed the lawsuit, stating there was no proof that FAA<\/a> disclosures affected Silva\u2019s job prospects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The judge also noted the lack of clarity on whether such FAA records even had a bearing on Silva\u2019s eligibility for pilot roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the aircraft\u2019s extensive damage, United repaired and returned the 34-year-old Boeing 767 (N641UA) to service, a rare but not unprecedented move. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A similar case occurred in 2019 when Delta Air Lines (DL)<\/a> repaired a Boeing 757<\/a> damaged in the Azores, returning it to service in four months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Photo: By Anna Zvereva – https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/130961247@N06\/52436571776\/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=125818748<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pilot Responsibility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Silva\u2019s argument hinged on the PIC designation, typically reserved for captains, which he claimed was used by United to unfairly place blame. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the court emphasized that merely submitting a report to the FAA did not equate to defamation or intentional sabotage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

United\u2019s successful motion for summary judgment closes the chapter on a legal attempt to reverse career fallout from the July 2023 incident. Silva remains unemployed in the aviation sector following the ruling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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United Pilots Nearly Crashed Boeing 777 in the Pacific Ocean<\/a><\/blockquote>